Systems and methods for enabling customers to obtain vision and eye health examinations
Systems and methods are provided for eye health and vision examinations. A customer diagnostic center is configured to generate customer examination data pertaining to an examination of a customer's eye. The customer diagnostic center provides a user interface for communicating with a customer and ophthalmic equipment for administering tests to the customer. A diagnostic center server is configured to receive the customer examination data from the customer diagnostic center over a network and allow the customer examination data to be accessed by an eye-care practitioner. A practitioner device associated with the eye-care practitioner is configured to receive the customer examination data from the diagnostic center server and display at least a portion of the customer examination data to the eye-care practitioner. Customer evaluation data is generated pertaining to the eye-care practitioner's evaluation of the customer examination data. An eye health report is provided to the customer via the network.
1. A system for providing a remotely assisted eye examination, comprising:
a diagnostic center including ophthalmic equipment comprising a set of instruments that are utilized in administering the eye examination, wherein at least a portion of the ophthalmic equipment is coupled to an equipment controller that is configured to receive commands over a network to enable remote control of the ophthalmic equipment by multiple individuals during the eye examination, and the ophthalmic equipment located at the diagnostic center at least includes an auto-phoropter;
a first remote device operated by a first remote individual; and
a second remote device operated by a second remote individual;
wherein the system is configured to:
establish a first connection between the diagnostic center and the first remote device over the network, wherein the first connection provides real-time video conferencing between the first remote individual and a customer, and the first connection enables the first remote individual to transmit commands over the network to remotely switch one or more lenses of the auto-phoropter;
establish a second connection between the diagnostic center and the second remote device over the network, wherein the second connection provides real-time video conferencing between the second remote individual and the customer, and the second connection enables the second remote individual to transmit commands over the network to remotely control the auto-phoropter;
facilitate, with remote assistance from both the first remote individual and the second remote individual, administration of the eye examination to the customer, the eye examination including one or more tests, wherein the equipment controller enables both the first remote individual and second remote individual to control the auto-phoropter during the one or more tests and enables a subjective refraction to be administered to the customer located at the diagnostic center; and
generate evaluation data associated with the eye examination based, at least in part, on at least one of the first remote individual's and the second remote individual's review of the one or more tests administered to the customer.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein administering the eye examination comprises:
collecting, using an on-site device located at the diagnostic center, customer information associated with the customer;
administering, with assistance by an on-site individual located at the diagnostic center, one or more preliminary tests using the ophthalmic equipment;
generating a preliminary refractive error for the customer based on the one or more preliminary tests;
administering, by the on-site individual, the first remote individual, or the second remote individual, one or more eye health tests using the ophthalmic equipment;
administering by the first remote individual or the second remote individual, the subjective refraction to the customer over the network;
generating the evaluation data, including, at least one of: an optical prescription for the customer; or a referral for the customer; and
providing the optical prescription or the referral to the customer at the diagnostic center.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the ophthalmic equipment at the diagnostic center includes an eye chart;
the equipment controller is coupled to the eye chart;
the first connection enables the first remote individual to transmit commands over the network to remotely control the eye chart during the eye examination; and
the second connection enables the second remote individual to transmit commands over the network to remotely control the eye chart during the eye examination.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the system further comprises an on-site device operated by an on-site individual located at the diagnostic center;
the ophthalmic equipment further comprises a lensometer or auto-refractor; and
administering the eye examination further includes:
administering, by the on-site individual, a preliminary set of tests using the lensometer or auto-refractor; and
deriving a preliminary refractive error for the customer based, at least in part, on the preliminary set of tests.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the eye examination includes a comprehensive eye examination;
the ophthalmic equipment includes both visual acuity examination equipment and eye health examination equipment; and
administering the eye examination further includes:
administering one or more eye health tests to assess disorders, diseases, or other negative health conditions associated with one or more of the customer's eyes.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the ophthalmic equipment includes an imaging device that is configured to capture one or more images of the customer's eyes; and
administering the eye examination further includes:
analyzing the one or more images to diagnose or prevent one or more eye health disorders.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein:
the one or more images capture a ganglion cell layer of the customer's eyes; and
analyzing the one or more images includes:
analyzing the ganglion cell layer to detect or prevent a glaucoma condition in the customer's eyes.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the evaluation data at least comprises one or more of: a referral for the customer to visit an eye-care professional or specialist for further evaluation; and an optical prescription.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first remote individual is an eye doctor, optometrist, ophthalmologist, practitioner, technician, or any other licensed or unlicensed individual who is capable of administering or monitoring the one or more tests; and
the second remote individual is an eye doctor, optometrist, ophthalmologist, practitioner, technician, or any other licensed or unlicensed individual who is capable of administering or monitoring the one or more tests.
10. A method for providing a remotely assisted eye examination, comprising:
administering the eye examination at a diagnostic center including ophthalmic equipment comprising a set of instruments, wherein at least a portion of the ophthalmic equipment is coupled to an equipment controller that is configured to receive commands over a network to enable remote control of the ophthalmic equipment by multiple individuals during the eye examination, and the ophthalmic equipment located at the diagnostic center at least includes an auto-phoropter;
wherein administering the eye examination includes:
establishing a first connection between the diagnostic center and a first remote device over the network, wherein the first connection provides real-time video conferencing between a first remote individual and a customer, and the first connection enables the first remote individual to transmit commands over the network to remotely switch one or more lenses of the auto-phoropter;
establishing a second connection between the diagnostic center and a second remote device over the network, wherein the second connection provides real-time video conferencing between a second remote individual and the customer, and the second connection enables the second remote individual to transmit commands over the network to remotely control the auto-phoropter;
administering, with remote assistance from both the first remote individual and the second remote individual, the eye examination to the customer, the eye examination including one or more tests, wherein the equipment controller enables both the first remote individual and second remote individual to control the auto-phoropter during the one or more tests and enables a subjective refraction to be administered to the customer located at the diagnostic center; and
generating evaluation data associated with the eye examination based, at least in part, on at least one of the first remote individual's and the second remote individual's review of the one or more tests administered to the customer.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein administering the eye examination comprises:
collecting, using an on-site device located at the diagnostic center, customer information associated with the customer;
administering, with assistance by an on-site individual located at the diagnostic center, one or more preliminary tests using the ophthalmic equipment;
generating a preliminary refractive error for the customer based on the one or more preliminary tests;
administering, by the on-site individual, the first remote individual, or the second remote individual, one or more eye health tests using the ophthalmic equipment;
administering by the first remote individual or the second remote individual, the subjective refraction to the customer over the network;
generating the evaluation data, including, at least one of: an optical prescription for the customer; or a referral for the customer; and
providing the optical prescription or the referral to the customer at the diagnostic center.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the ophthalmic equipment at the diagnostic center includes an eye chart;
the equipment controller is coupled to the eye chart;
the first connection enables the first remote individual to transmit commands over the network to remotely control the eye chart during the eye examination; and
the second connection enables the second remote individual to transmit commands over the network to remotely control the eye chart during the eye examination.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the diagnostic center comprises an on-site device operated by an on-site individual;
the ophthalmic equipment further comprises a lensometer or auto-refractor; and
administering the eye examination further includes:
administering, by the on-site individual, a preliminary set of tests using the lensometer or auto-refractor; and
deriving a preliminary refractive error for the customer based, at least in part, on the preliminary set of tests.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the eye examination includes a comprehensive eye examination;
the ophthalmic equipment includes both visual acuity examination equipment and eye health examination equipment; and
administering the eye examination further includes:
administering one or more eye health tests to assess disorders, diseases, or other negative health conditions associated with one or more of the customer's eyes.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the ophthalmic equipment includes an imaging device that is configured to capture one or more images of the customer's eyes; and
administering the eye examination further includes: analyzing the one or more images to diagnose or prevent one or more eye health disorders.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the one or more images capture a ganglion cell layer of the customer's eyes; and
analyzing the one or more images includes:
analyzing the ganglion cell layer to detect or prevent a glaucoma condition in the customer's eyes.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the evaluation data at least comprises one or more of: a referral for the customer to visit an eye-care professional or specialist for further evaluation; and an optical prescription.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the first remote individual is an eye doctor, optometrist, ophthalmologist, practitioner, technician, or any other licensed or unlicensed individual who is capable of administering or monitoring the one or more tests; and
the second remote individual is an eye doctor, optometrist, ophthalmologist, practitioner, technician, or any other licensed or unlicensed individual who is capable of administering or monitoring the one or more tests.