SYSTEM FOR CHARACTERIZING A CORNEA AND OBTAINING AN OPHTHALMIC LENS
A system for determining the shape of a cornea of an eye illuminates at least one of the interior surface, the posterior surface, and the interior region of the eye with infrared light of a wavelength that can generate fluorescent light from the portion of the cornea illuminated. The generated fluorescent light is then detected. A step of illuminating can comprise focusing the infrared light in a plurality of different planes substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the eye. From the detected light it is possible to create a map of at least a portion of the interior surface, at least a portion of the posterior surface, and/or portion of the interior region of the cornea. Clarity of vision can be determined by generating autofluorescence from proteins in the pigment epithelial cells of the retina.
1 - 23 . (canceled)
24 . Apparatus for generating a map of a cornea of an eye, the cornea having an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and an interior region between the anterior and posterior surfaces, the apparatus comprising:
a) a laser for illuminating a selected portion of the anterior surface, the posterior surface, and the interior region, the illumination being with a light of a wavelength that can generates autofluorescent light directly from the portion of the cornea illuminated;
b) focusing means for focusing the illuminating light on the selected portion of the cornea;
c) a photodetector for detecting the generated autofluorescent light. and
d) means for generating the map from the detected autofluorescent light, wherein the map is of a refractive property and/or shape of the portion of the cornea illuminated.
25 . (canceled)
26 . The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the eye has an optical axis, and the focusing means focuses the illuminating light in a plurality of different planes substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the eye.
27 - 34 . (canceled)
35 . The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the means for generating the map comprises a computerized control unit.
36 . The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the laser emits pulses having a duration of from about 50 to 100 femtoseconds and an energy level of at least 0.2 nJ.
37 . The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said laser generates pulses at 50 MHz, with each pulse having a duration of less than 100 femtoseconds and an energy level of less than 1 nJ.
38 . The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said laser emits a sequence of femtosecond laser pulses.
39 . Apparatus for generating a map of a cornea of an eye, the apparatus comprising:
a) a laser for illuminating a selected portion of the cornea, the selected portion including an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and an interior region, the illumination being with a plurality of light beams of a wavelength that generates autofluorescent light directly from the portion of the cornea illuminated;
b) focusing means for focusing the illuminating light beams on the selected portion of the cornea;
c) a photodetector for detecting the generated autofluorescent light; and
d) a computerized control unit for determining an optical path length for a plurality of locations from the detected autofluorescent light and generating a map from the detected autofluorescent light, wherein the map is of the spatial distribution of optical path lengths for the selected portion of the cornea illuminated.
40 . The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the eye has an optical axis, and the focusing means focuses the illuminating light in a plurality of different planes substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the eye.
41 . The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the means for generating the map comprises a computerized control unit.
42 . The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the laser emits pulses having a duration of from about 50 to 100 femtoseconds and an energy level of at least 0.2 nJ.
43 . The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said laser generates pulses at 50 MHz, with each pulse having a duration of less than 100 femtoseconds and an energy level of less than 1 nJ.
44 . The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said laser emits a sequence of femtosecond laser pulses.