Apparatus and method for augmenting sight
View Patent ↗A method of augmenting sight in an individual. The method comprises obtaining an image of a scene using a camera carried by the individual; transmitting the obtained image to a processor carried by the individual; selecting an image modification to be applied to the image by the processor; operating upon the image to create a modified image using either analog or digital imaging techniques, and displaying the modified image on a display device worn by the individual. The invention also relates to an apparatus augmenting sight in an individual. The apparatus comprises a camera, carried by the individual, for obtaining an image of a scene viewed by the individual; a display carried by the individual; an image modification input device carried by the individual; and a processor, carried by the individual. The processor modifies the image and displays the modified image on the display carried by the individual.
1. A method for improving the visual acuity of a patient with retinal defects comprising the steps of:
determining the locations of retinal damage in an eye of the patient;
obtaining an image of a scene viewed by the patient; and
mapping, using a processor, the image to a display in such a way to avoid the locations of retinal damage when the display is viewed by the patient.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of obtaining the image uses a camera attached to eyeglass frames worn by the patient.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the display replaces a lens of the eyeglass frames worn by the patient.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the locations of retinal damage are determined by a health professional.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of modifying the image according to instructions issued by the patient.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the instructions are verbal.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the instructions are selected from a set of instructions comprising magnify, edge enhance, remap color, remap visual field, contrast enhance and brightness enhance the image.
8. An apparatus for improving the visual acuity of a patient with retinal damage, the apparatus comprising:
a camera, carried by the patient, for obtaining an image of a scene viewed by the patient;
a display, carried by the patient;
a memory for storing locations of retinal damage in an eye of the patient; and
a processor, in communication with the camera, display and memory, for mapping the obtained image to the display in such a way to avoid the locations of retinal damage when the display is viewed by the patient.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the camera is a video source selected from the group comprising a camera, a television, and a computer.