Diagnosis of optically identifiable ophthalmic conditions

1. An apparatus for performing multiple procedures involving the eye, the apparatus comprising:

a data collection apparatus for collecting a data set corresponding to at least a portion of an eye of a patient which is a real or apparent loss of ganglion cells associated with a neuronal loss in the brain, the data collection apparatus configured to provide the data set that is indicative of at least two neurological disorders including glaucoma and Alzheimer's disease, and further indicative of inappropriate responses to frequency doubling contrast sensitivity patterns; and

a data analysis module that interrelates the data indicative of said at least two neurological disorders to provide an interpretive result.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a map generation module for generating a map indicative of the presence of a selected one of glaucoma, macular degeneration, and inappropriate responses to frequency doubling contrast sensitivity patterns.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a measurement module for measuring response that can be interpreted as a real or apparent loss of ganglion cells associated with a neuronal loss in a brain with a selected one of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a measurement module for generating data indicative of the presence of a selected one of dyslexia, multiple sclerosis, diabetic retinopathy, and optic neuritis.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a data output module that reports the interrelated data from the data set.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a report module that reports the interpretive result.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a single output module that reports the interrelated data from the data set and the interpretive result.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a superposition module for superimposing data obtained from at least two data sets.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a display configured for displaying the superimposed data obtained from at least two data sets.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a memory for storing data.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein the memory for storing data is configured to store and to selectively retrieve data from at least one data set for determining changes in contrast sensitivity induced in response to an applied stress.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 , where the applied stress is selected from the group consisting of intra ocular pressure variation, blood pressure variation, oxygen concentration variation, exercise, drug administration, administration of insulin, and administration of glucose.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein the memory for storing data is configured to selectively retrieve data from at least one data set for trending analysis purposes.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising means for performing at least one objective eye-related interpretive procedure relating to a neurological disorder.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data analysis module is configured to automatically determine a presence of an abnormality.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein said data analysis module comprises a scaling module for providing a scaled estimation of an extent of the abnormality.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an information input module for inputting other patent-related information including at least one from the group of tonometer intraocular pressure, patient-history, family history, blood pressure, vital signs, medication and pupillometry.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data set is indicative of an abnormality appearing to involve, at least in part, a retinal portion of the eye.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said abnormality actually involves, at least in part, an abnormality of the brain.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least two neurological disorders are selected from the group consisting of glaucoma, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.