Apparatus and method for objective measurements of optical systems using wavefront analysis

An apparatus for determining aberrations of an eye comprising:

• a patient head rest comprising an adjustment, the patient head rest associated with an optical table having a base, the base comprising:
• a) a probe beam generating apparatus for providing a probe beam;
• b) probe beam directing optics operable with the probe beam generating apparatus, the probe beam directing optics comprising a beam splitter, a mirror, and a lens operable within a beam path of the probe beam, the probe beam directing optics being capable of directing the probe beam toward an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest;
• c) video image components, the video image components comprising a light source for illuminating the eye of the patient, and a mirror and a video camera for viewing the eye, the video image components being capable of generating an image of the eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest;
• d) eye fixation components, the eye fixation components comprising a fixation target for viewing by the eye of a patient, a light source for illuminating the target, and a lens and a mirror operable within a path of the target, the fixation components being capable of generating a target that the eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest can view;
• and
• e) wavefront directing and analyzing components operable with the eye of a patient, the wavefront directing and analyzing components comprising a lens, a mirror, a microlens array, and a camera operable within an optical path of the eye, and a data processor operable with the camera, the wavefront directing and analyzing components being capable of measuring a wavefront emanating from the eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest and determining aberrations of said eye that range from at least about + or −1 diopters to at least about + or −6 diopters.

A method for determining higher order aberrations of an eye requiring a correction of greater than −6 diopters of myopia, the method comprising the steps of:

• directing an optical beam onto a retina of an eye;
• reflecting the optical beam from the retina of the eye;
• determining characteristics of a wavefront in the reflected optical beam;
• and
• generating data based on the characteristics of the wavefront, which data quantifies at least one higher order aberration of the eye.

A method for determining higher order aberrations of an eye requiring a correction of greater than +6 diopters of hyperopia, the method comprising the steps of:

• directing an optical beam onto a retina of an eye;
• reflecting the optical beam from the retina of the eye;
• determining characteristics of a wavefront in the reflected optical beam;
• and
• generating data based on the characteristics of the wavefront, which data quantifies at least one higher order aberration of the eye.

An apparatus for determining aberrations of an eye, comprising:

• a patient head rest associated with an optical table having a base, the base having:
• i) a probe beam generating apparatus for providing a probe beam;
• ii) probe beam directing optics operable with the probe beam generating apparatus, the probe beam directing optics comprising a beam splitter, a mirror, and a lens operable within a beam path of the probe beam, the probe beam directing optics being capable of directing the probe beam toward an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest;
• iii) video image components, the video image components comprising a light source for illuminating the eye of the patient, and a mirror and a video camera for viewing the eye, the video image components being capable of generating an image of the eye of the patient positioned on the patient head rest;
• iv) eye fixation components, the eye fixation components comprising a fixation target for viewing by the eye of a patient, a light source for illuminating the target, and a lens and a mirror operable within a path of the target, the fixation components being capable of generating a target that the eye of the patient positioned on the patient head rest can view;
• and
• v) wavefront directing and analyzing components operable with the eye of a patient, the wavefront directing and analyzing components comprising a lens, a mirror, a microlens array, and a camera operable within an optical path of the eye, and a data processor operable with the camera, the wavefront directing and analyzing components being capable of measuring a wavefront emanating from the eye of the patient positioned on the patient head rest and determining higher order aberrations of the eye that range from at least about +1 diopter to at least about +6 diopters and from at least about −1 diopter to at least about −6 diopters.

A method for determining higher order aberrations of an eye requiring a correction of greater than +6 diopters, the method comprising:

• directing an optical beam onto a retina of an eye;
• reflecting the optical beam from the retina of the eye;
• determining characteristics of a wavefront in the reflected optical beam;
• and
• generating data based on the characteristics of the wavefront, which data quantifies at least one higher order aberration of the eye.