Automatic alignment optometric measurement apparatus and method using the same

An optometric apparatus comprising:

• an optometric unit for measuring one eye of a subject to be measured;
• drive means for driving said optometric unit;
• a start switch for generating a signal;
• and
• control means,
• wherein said control means controls said drive means so that said optometric unit measures said one eye after said drive means aligns said optometric unit with said one eye in response to said signal from said start switch and then controls said drive means to move said optometric unit to the other eye of said subject subsequent to the completion of the measurement of said one eye.

An optometric measurement method for automatically performing an optometric measurement in response to a signal from a start switch, said method comprising the steps of:

• aligning a measurement unit with one eye of a subject to be measured;
• measuring said one eye with said measurement unit;
• and
• moving said measurement unit to the other eye of said subject.

A machine readable medium for storing a program, said program comprising the steps of:

• aligning a measurement unit with one eye of a subject to be measured;
• measuring said one eye with said measurement unit;
• and
• moving said measurement unit to the other eye of said subject.

A machine readable medium for storing a program, said program comprising the steps of:

• aligning a measurement unit with one eye of a subject to be measured;
• measuring said one eye with said measurement unit;
• moving said measurement unit to the other eye of said subject;
• and
• displaying the measurement result of said measuring step.

An optometric apparatus comprising:

• luminous flux projecting means for projecting a luminous flux to one eye of a subject to be measured;
• imaging means for imaging an anterior part of said one eye illuminated by said luminous flux projecting means;
• position detecting means for detecting the position of said one eye in accordance with an image output from said imaging means;
• a measurement unit for measuring said one eye;
• drive means for driving said measurement unit;
• and
• control means for controlling said drive means,
• wherein said control means controls said drive means in accordance with a signal output from said position detecting means that captures a wide area image, before controlling said drive means in accordance with a signal output from said position detecting means that captures a narrow area image.