Fluorescence image acquisition method, fluorescence image acquisition program, and fluorescence image acquisition apparatus

A fluorescence image acquisition non-transitory computer program product including executable instructions that when executed by a processor perform steps for:

• irradiating an eyeground that has been provided with a fluorescent dye with a short-pulse beam of light for exciting the fluorescent dye;
• setting the time point of emission of the light as a reference, measuring the intensities of luminescence of the fluorescent dye at two different times which are predetermined periods of time after the reference;
• determining the ratio between the intensities of luminescence at the two different times;
• comparing the determined ratio with a threshold value to determine if the fluorescent dye has bonded to a target and, based thereon, detecting the position of the target;
• and
• generating a fluorescence image of the fluorescent dye after having marked the target, based on the results of the detection by the detecting step.

A fluorescence image acquisition apparatus comprising:

• a light source operable to emit a short-pulse beam of light for exciting a fluorescent dye that has been provided to an eyeground;
• a light source control section operable to irradiate the eyeground with the light from the light source;
• a detection section operable to
• set the time point of emission of the light as a reference,
• measure the intensities of luminescence of the fluorescent dye at two different times which are predetermined periods of time after the reference,
• determine the ratio between the intensities of luminescence at the two different times, and
• compare the determined ratio with a threshold value to determine if the fluorescent dye has bonded to a target and, based thereon, detect the position of the target;
• and
• a generation section operable to generate a fluorescence image of the fluorescent dye after having marked the target, based on the results of the detection by the detection section.