SYSTEM FOR CHARACTERIZING A CONREA 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 - 34 . (canceled)
35 . A method for determining the tissue structure of the interior region of the cornea, the method comprising the steps of:
a) illuminating a portion of the interior region of the cornea with light of a wavelength that generates second harmonic light from the portion of the cornea illuminated;
b) detecting the generated second harmonic light;
c) determining the optical path length at a plurality of locations in the portion of the interior region illuminated by detecting any generated blue light, wherein the presence of blue light indicates the presence of collagen lamellae in the cornea; and
d) generating a map of the tissue structure from the detected second harmonic light, wherein the map is of the spatial distribution of optical path lengths for the portion of the interior region of the cornea illuminated.
36 . The method of claim 35 wherein the wavelength of the blue light is about 390 nanometers.
37 . The method of claim 35 wherein the map comprises a three-dimensional distribution of the refractive index of the illuminated tissue structure inside of the cornea.
38 . A method for determining the tissue structure of the interior region of the cornea, the method comprising the steps of:
a) illuminating a portion of the interior region of the cornea with light of a wavelength that generates autofluorescent light from the portion of the cornea illuminated;
b) detecting the generated autofluorescent light;
c) determining the optical path length at a plurality of locations in the portion of the interior region illuminated by detecting any generated green light, wherein the presence of green light indicates the presence of collagen lamellae in the cornea; and
d) generating a map of the tissue structure from the detected autofluorescent light, wherein the map is of the spatial distribution of optical path lengths for the portion of the interior region of the cornea illuminated.
39 . The method of claim 38 wherein the wavelength of the green light is about 550 nanometers.
40 . The method of claim 38 wherein the map comprises a three-dimensional distribution of the refractive index of the illuminated tissue structure inside of the cornea.