Device and method for positioning and relaxing accommodation of the eye

An apparatus for use in positioning a first eye of a patient having first and second eyes, which first eye is capable of following movement of the second eye, comprising:

• a. means for occluding the second eye, but not the first eye, from ambient light;
• b. means, comprising a plurality of selectively illuminable light sources contained within the occluding means, for prompting movement of the second eye relative to the occluding means responsive to illumination of a selected light source;
• and
• c. a plurality of light sources, corresponding on a one-to-one basis with the plurality of selectively illuminable light sources, for providing confirmation of the illumination status of the selectively illuminable light sources.

An apparatus for performing optical procedures on a patient having two eyes and a face, comprising:

• a. a slit lamp;
• b. means for occluding one eye from ambient light, comprising:
• i. an eyepiece;
• and
• ii. means for adjusting the eyepiece to conform to the facial contours of the patient;
• c. a first array of light sources, selectively-illuminable and contained within the eyepiece, for providing alternate fixation targets for the second eye;
• d. a second array of light sources, visible from locations external to the eyepiece and which corresponds to the first array, for visually confirming the illumination status of the light sources of the first array contained within the eyepiece;
• and
• e. means for connecting the occluding means to the slit lamp.

A method for positioning and relaxing accommodation of a first eye of a patient having first and second eyes, which first eye is capable of following movement of the second eye, comprising the steps of:

• a. occluding the second eye, but not the first eye, from ambient light using occluding means;
• b. providing a target for the second eye by illuminating at least one of a plurality of selectively illuminable light sources contained within the occluding means;
• and
• c. directing the patient to move the second eye relative to the occluding means to fixate on the target.

A method for positioning and relaxing accommodation of a first eye of a patient having a brain, first and second eyes, and first and second ocular muscles corresponding, respectively, to the first and second eyes, which first eye is capable of following movement of the second eye, comprising the steps of:

• a. occluding the second eye, but not the first eye, from ambient light using occluding means;
• b. providing a target for the second eye by illuminating at least one of a plurality of selectively illuminable light sources contained within the occluding means;
• and
• c. directing the patient to move the second eye relative to the occluding means in an attempt to view the target, thereby:
• i. causing the patient to move the second eye in an attempt to view the target;
• ii. causing the first eye to move to follow the second eye;
• iii. causing the brain to perceive the target as being at an approximately infinite distance from the second eye;
• and
• iv. causing the first and second ocular muscles to relax.