JP2017012663A - Ophthalmic photographing apparatus, control method thereof and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism capable of appropriately photographing a meibomian gland of a subject's eye.SOLUTION: An ophthalmic photographing apparatus includes: meibomian gland selection means that, when a meibomian gland photographing mode for photographing a meibomian gland 51 of a subject's eye is selected by photographing mode selection means, selects any one meibomian gland out of upper eyelid meibomian glands located in an upper eyelid side of the subject's eye and lower eyelid meibomian glands located in the lower eyelid side of the subject's eye; and setup means that, in response to the meibomian gland 51 selected by the meibomian gland selection means, sets a photometry area 52 or a photometry area 53 when photographing the meibomian gland of the subject's eye.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus for photographing an eye to be examined, a control method therefor, and a program for causing a computer to execute the control method.

  In conventional ophthalmologic imaging devices, the optimal light quantity is achieved by adjusting the output of the light source so that the brightness value of the image is optimized during observation for focusing and positioning when imaging the eye to be inspected and during imaging for imaging. There is a need. For example, in fundus observation and fundus photography, an automatic exposure function that automatically controls the output of the light source during observation and photographing with reference to the photometric area during observation and adjusts it to the optimum light quantity in order to achieve the optimum light quantity (AE) is known.

  Further, as a conventional technique, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for changing a photometric area for AE according to a state of an apparatus and a pupil diameter of an eye to be examined in fundus photographing with a fundus camera.

JP 2012-40197 A

  In general, the meibomian gland of the eye to be examined on the back side of the eyelid has a function of secreting an oil and fat component to prevent drying of the eyeball surface. When the number of meibomian glands is small, a tendency to become so-called dry eye is recognized. This meibomian gland can be visualized by taking an anterior eye image using infrared light with the eyelid back facing away from the outside, but the meibomian gland has low contrast, Shooting with proper exposure is more necessary. In addition, when photographing the meibomian glands, the reflectance of the back of the eyelid where the meibomian gland is located is different from that of the skin of the anterior eye. Therefore, in order to achieve proper exposure, photometry of the meibomian gland on the back of the eyelid is performed. There is a need to.

  In addition, this meibomian gland exists on each of the upper and lower heels. And the upper limb meibomian gland located on the upper heel side and the upper heel meibomian gland located on the lower heel side differ in the size of the area that exists when the eyelid is turned for photographing, The position on the shooting screen also changes.

  In this regard, the conventional technique such as Patent Document 1 does not consider such shooting restrictions on the meibomian glands. For this reason, the conventional technique has a problem that it is difficult to appropriately photograph the meibomian gland of the eye to be examined.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a mechanism capable of appropriately photographing the meibomian gland of an eye to be examined.

The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus of the present invention is an ophthalmic photographing apparatus for photographing an eye to be examined. The photographing mode selecting means for selecting one photographing mode from a plurality of photographing modes, and the eye to be examined in the photographing mode selecting means. When the meibomian gland photographing mode for photographing the meibomian gland is selected, any one of the upper meibomian gland located on the upper eyelid side of the eye to be examined and the lower meibomian gland located on the lower eyelid side of the eye to be examined Meibomian gland selecting means for selecting one meibomian gland, and setting means for setting a photometric area for photographing the meibomian gland of the eye according to the meibomian gland selected by the meibomian gland selecting means .
Another aspect of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus of the present invention is an ophthalmic photographing apparatus for photographing an eye to be examined, and photographing means and an upper eyelid meibomian gland located on the upper eyelid side of the eye to be examined are photographed by the photographing means. And setting means for setting a different photometric area depending on the case and the case where the lower eyelid meibomian gland located on the lower eyelid side of the eye to be examined is photographed by the photographing means.
The present invention also includes a control method for the above-described ophthalmologic photographing apparatus and a program for causing a computer to execute the control method.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately photograph the meibomian gland of the eye to be examined.

It is a figure which shows an example of schematic structure of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the picked-up image acquired by image | photographing the meibomian gland of the eye to be examined using infrared light. It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the photometry area | region set respectively at the time of imaging | photography of the upper eyelid meibomian gland and imaging | photography of the lower eyelid meibomian gland. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence in the control method of the ophthalmic imaging device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence in the control method of the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments (embodiments) for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 100 is an apparatus for photographing the eye E.

Hereinafter, a schematic configuration of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described.
The objective lens 1 is disposed so as to face the eye E, and a photographing aperture 2, a focus lens 3, an imaging lens 4, and an image sensor 5 are provided on the optical axis L1. Here, the imaging element 5 is an imaging means provided with a sensor having sensitivity to visible light and infrared light. The objective lens 1 to the imaging lens 4 constitute a photographing optical system for observing and photographing the eye E.

  Further, a perforated mirror 6 is obliquely provided in the vicinity of the photographing aperture 2. On the optical axis L2 in the reflection direction of the perforated mirror 6, a corneal baffle 7 having a light shielding point at the center, a lens 8, a focus index unit 9, a lens 10, and a crystalline lens baffle 11 as a light shielding member having a light shielding point are provided. It has been. Further, on the optical axis L2, a ring slit 12 having a ring-shaped slit opening and a dichroic mirror 13 having characteristics of transmitting infrared light and reflecting visible light are provided. Here, the focus index unit 9 is movable along the optical axis L2, and can be inserted and removed from the optical axis L2. Further, due to the objective lens 1, the lens 8, and the lens 10, the corneal baffle 7, the crystalline lens baffle 11, and the ring slit 12 are optically substantially the same as the cornea, the posterior surface of the crystalline lens, and the pupil Ep of the eye E at the working distance WD0, respectively. It is arranged at a conjugate position.

  On the optical axis L3 in the reflection direction of the dichroic mirror 13, a white LED light source (visible light source) 15 which is a light source for photographing in which a condenser lens 14 and a plurality of white LED elements that emit visible light pulse light are arranged. Is provided.

  A condenser lens 16 and an infrared LED light source (infrared light source) 17 are provided on the optical axis L4 in the transmission direction of the dichroic mirror 13. The infrared LED light source 17 includes a plurality of infrared LED elements that emit infrared steady-state light. The infrared LED light source 17 also serves as an observation light source and a photographing light source in the case of infrared light photography.

  The objective lens 1, the dichroic mirror 13, the condenser lens 14, and the condenser lens 16 constitute an illumination optical system that illuminates the fundus of the eye E when photographing the fundus of the eye E. Light from the white LED light source 15 and the infrared LED light source 17 illuminates the fundus of the eye E through this illumination optical system.

  Further, by aligning with the working distance WD1, the light of the white LED light source 15 and the infrared LED light source 17 illuminates the outer eye part (anterior eye part) Ef of the eye to be examined through this illumination optical system. .

  In the present embodiment, the above optical system is built in one housing and constitutes a camera optical unit. The camera optical unit is mounted on a slide table (not shown), and is movable up and down, left and right, and further back and forth in the direction of the optical axis L1 with respect to the eye E. And can be aligned.

  The output signal from the image sensor 5 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 18, stored in the memory 19, and output to the photometric value calculation unit 20. The A / D conversion unit 18, the memory 19, and the photometric value calculation unit 20 are connected to the processing / control unit 21.

  The processing / control unit 21 performs overall control of the operation of the ophthalmic imaging apparatus 100 and performs various processes in the ophthalmic imaging apparatus 100, and includes, for example, a CPU. An image memory 22 is connected to the processing / control unit 21. The image memory 22 stores still image data captured by the image sensor 5 as digital image data.

  Next, a method of automatic light quantity control of an infrared LED light source (infrared light source) 17 serving as a photographing light source and a white LED light source (visible light source) 15 serving as a photographing light source depending on the observation light source and the photographing mode. explain.

  First, automatic light quantity control in a state where the focus index unit 9 is inserted into and removed from the optical axis L2 will be described. The infrared light output from the infrared LED light source 17 illuminates the outer eye portion Ef of the eye E to be examined as described above, and the reflected scattered light is received by the image sensor 5. The image sensor 5 generates an image signal, and the image signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 18.

  Then, the photometric value calculation unit 20 calculates a photometric value related to the photographing light (here, infrared light) from the photometric area set by the processing / control unit 21. The processing / control unit 21 receives the photometric value calculated by the photometric value calculating unit 20, and compares the photometric value with a reference value to calculate a control value so that the observation image has appropriate brightness. . Then, the processing / control unit 21 transmits the control value to the infrared light source control unit 26. The infrared light source control unit 26 receives a control value from the processing / control unit 21 and controls the output of infrared light from the infrared LED light source 17 based on the control value. The infrared light source control unit 26 (or processing / control unit 21) that controls the output of the infrared light constitutes an output control means.

  Further, in the case of a shooting mode in which shooting is performed with infrared light, when the shooting switch 30 is pressed, the processing / control unit 21 causes the photometric value calculated by the photometric value calculation unit 20 and the infrared light source control unit 26. From the control value, the control value is calculated so that the captured image captured using the infrared light of the infrared LED light source 17 has appropriate brightness. Then, the processing / control unit 21 controls the focus index driving unit 27 to retract the focus index unit 9 from the optical axis L2, controls the infrared light source control unit 26, and causes the infrared LED light source 17 to emit light. . Here, for example, the processing / control unit 21 controls the exposure amount of the captured image according to the light amount of the infrared LED light source 17 and the accumulation time of the image sensor 5.

  The shooting mode for shooting with visible light is the same as the shooting mode for shooting with infrared light. Specifically, in the shooting mode in which shooting is performed with visible light, when the shooting switch 30 is pressed, the processing / control unit 21 causes the photometry value calculated by the photometry value calculation unit 20 and the infrared light source control unit 26 to From the control value, the control value is calculated so that the captured image captured using the white light of the white LED light source 15 has an appropriate brightness. Then, the processing / control unit 21 controls the focus index driving unit 27 to retract the focus index unit 9 from the optical axis L2, controls the visible light source control unit 25, and causes the white LED light source 15 to emit light. Here, for example, the processing / control unit 21 controls the exposure amount of the photographed image according to the light amount of the white LED light source 15 and the accumulation time of the image sensor 5.

  Note that, in the fundus photographing mode, the infrared light source 17 that is an observation light source and the automatic light amount control method for the infrared LED light source 17 that is a photographing light source are the same as described above.

  The processing / control unit 21 is connected with a monitor 23 for displaying an observation image by infrared light picked up by the image pickup device 5, a photographed image by visible light, and the like, and an image pickup means control unit 24. ing.

  A visible light source controller 25 is connected to the white LED light source 15, and an infrared light source controller 26 is connected to the infrared LED light source 17. Both the visible light source control unit 25 and the infrared light source control unit 26 transmit and receive control signals to and from the processing / control unit 21, and currents flowing through the white LED light source 15 and the infrared LED light source 17, respectively. By controlling, the light emission amount of each light source is controlled.

  Connected to the focus index unit 9 is a focus index drive unit 27 that moves the focus index unit 9 in the direction of the optical axis L2 and drives the focus index unit 9 so that it can be inserted into and removed from the optical axis L2. The focus lens 3 is connected to a focus lens driving unit 28 that moves the focus lens 3 along the optical axis L1. Both the focus index driving unit 27 and the focus lens driving unit 28 transmit and receive control signals to and from the processing / control unit 21.

  Further, the processing / control unit 21 is connected with an imaging mode selection unit 29, an imaging switch 30, and a meibomian gland selection unit 31. The shooting mode selection unit 29 selects one shooting mode from a plurality of shooting modes set in the ophthalmologic shooting apparatus 100. The meibomian gland selection unit 31 selects the upper meibomian gland located on the upper eyelid side of the eye E and the eye to be examined when the imaging mode selection unit 29 selects the meibomian gland photographing mode for photographing the meibomian gland of the eye E to be examined. Select one meibomian gland among the lower meibomian glands located on the inferior side of E.

  In the present embodiment, the plurality of imaging modes set in the ophthalmologic imaging apparatus 100 include at least the above-described meibomian gland imaging mode using infrared light and fundus imaging that images the fundus using visible light. A visible light external eye photographing mode for photographing the mode and the external eye part is included. Here, the meibomian gland photographing mode is a photographing mode for observing and photographing the meibomian gland on the back of the eyelid with infrared light.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a captured image obtained by capturing the meibomian gland of the eye E using infrared light according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
2A shows a photographed image of the upper eyelid meibomian gland located on the upper eyelid side (back of the upper eyelid) of the eye E. FIG. 2B shows the lower eyelid side of the eye E to be examined. A photographed image of the lower lower meibomian gland located on the lower side of the lower arm is shown. In both FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, a meibomian gland 51 is drawn.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the meibomian gland 51 on the back of the eyelid is different in brightness from the other skin portions and the state of the meibomian gland 51 is to be observed well, the meibomian gland 51 is taken as a center for photometry and exposure. Need to be determined. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the upper and lower meibomian glands differ in size, and the center of the pupil of the eye E is to be photographed at the center of the screen. In this case, the position of the meibomian gland 51 also differs with respect to the screen.

FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing an example of a photometric area set at the time of photographing the upper eyelid meibomian gland and at the time of photographing the lower eyelid meibomian gland.
In FIG. 3, FIG. 3 (a) shows a photometric area 52 set at the time of photographing the upper eyelid meibomian gland (51), and FIG. 3 (b) is set at the time of photographing the lower eyelid meibomian gland (51). A photometric area 53 is shown.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the photometric areas 52 and 53 are set by the processing / control unit 21. Specifically, the processing / control unit 21 sets a photometric area for photographing the eye E according to the meibomian gland selected by the meibomian gland selection unit 31. More specifically, when the upper meibomian gland is selected by the meibomian gland selecting unit 31, the processing / control unit 21 sets the photometric area 52 shown in FIG. In addition, when the lower meibomian gland is selected by the meibomian gland selection unit 31, the processing / control unit 21 sets the photometric area 53 shown in FIG.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the processing / control unit 21 sets the photometry area 52 set when the upper limb meibomian gland is selected from the photometry area 53 set when the lower limb meibomian gland is selected. Is also set as a wide area (large area). This is because the upper eyelid meibomian gland is larger and wider than the lower eyelid meibomian gland, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b).

  Further, the processing / control unit 21 sets the photometric area 52 to the upper position of the screen and the photometric area 53 to the lower position of the screen with respect to the pupil center of the eye E. That is, the processing / control unit 21 sets the photometry area 53 set when the lower eyelid meibomian gland is selected to a position below the photometry area 52 set when the upper eyelid meibomian gland is selected. .

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, the shape of the photometric areas 52 and 53 is shown by a circle for simplicity. However, in the present embodiment, the shape is not limited to this. For example, an arbitrary shape such as a rectangle or an ellipse is used. Even if it is the shape of, it is applicable.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, the processing / control unit 21 sets a photometric area 52 to be set when the upper eyelid meibomian gland is selected on the observation image of the eye E to be examined displayed on the monitor 23. Control to display on the screen. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the processing / control unit 21 sets a photometric area 53 to be set when the lower eyelid meibomian gland is selected on the observation image of the eye E displayed on the monitor 23. Control to display on the screen. The processing / control unit 21 that performs the display control constitutes a display control unit.

Next, an outline of the operation of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.
For example, when the meibomian gland photographing mode is selected by the photographing mode selection unit 29, the focus lens 3 is moved to the + diopter end (position 3-1) by the focus lens driving unit. In this state, by setting the working distance to WD1, the external eye portion Ef of the eye E to be examined and the image pickup device 5 have a substantially conjugate relationship.

  The infrared light output from the infrared LED light source 17 is collected by the condenser lens 16, passes through the dichroic mirror 13, and then the luminous flux is limited in a ring shape by the ring slit 12 and the crystalline lens baffle 11. The infrared light limited to the ring-shaped light beam once forms an image of the ring slit 12 on the perforated mirror 6 via the lens 10, the lens 8 and the corneal baffle 7, and the optical axis L <b> 1 by the perforated mirror 6. Reflected in the direction. Then, the external eye Ef of the eye E is illuminated by the objective lens 1. At this time, the meibomian glands of the eye E to be inspected with the help of an examiner or a medical assistant are illuminated.

  Return light (reflected and scattered light beam) from the external eye portion Ef of the eye E illuminated by infrared light from the infrared LED light source 17 that emits steady light is an objective lens 1, a photographing aperture 2, a focus lens 3, The image reaches the image sensor 5 through the imaging lens 4 and is imaged. Then, after being converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 18, an observation image related to the external eye unit Ef is displayed on the monitor 23 via the imaging unit control unit 24 and the processing / control unit 21. Then, the examiner or the like uses an operation rod (not shown) while observing the observation image related to the external eye part Ef displayed on the monitor 23, and the external eye part (anterior eye part) Ef of the eye E to be examined and ophthalmic photography. Alignment with the apparatus 100 is performed. Further, the examiner or the like observes the observation image related to the external eye portion Ef of the eye E to be examined, and adjusts the focus by operating a focus knob (not shown).

  Next, a processing procedure in the control method of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure in the control method of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Assume that the meibomian gland photographing mode for photographing the meibomian gland of the eye E is already selected in the photographing mode selection unit 29 before starting the processing of the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S101, the processing / control unit 21 determines whether the upper meibomian gland is selected by the meibomian gland selection unit 31 or not.

If the upper meibomian gland is selected as a result of the determination in step S101 (S101 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S102.
In step S102, the processing / control unit 21 sets a photometry area 52 shown in FIG. 3A as a photometry area when the upper eye meibomian gland is imaged using infrared light.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S101, if the upper limb meibomian gland has not been selected (S101 / No), the process proceeds to step S103. The process proceeds to step S103 when the lower meibomian gland is selected by the meibomian gland selection unit 31.
In step S103, the processing / control unit 21 sets a photometric area 53 shown in FIG. 3B as a photometric area when the lower eye meibomian gland is imaged using infrared light.

When the process of step S102 is completed or when the process of step S103 is completed, the process proceeds to step S104.
In step S104, the processing / control unit 21 performs display control for overlapping and displaying the photometric area set in step S102 or S103 on the observation image of the eye E displayed on the monitor 23. In this way, the examiner can grasp in which eye area E the photometry is performed, and if the meibomian gland and the photometry area are misaligned, alignment is performed and adjusted. It becomes possible to do.

  Subsequently, in step S105, the processing / control unit 21 performs control to perform photometry according to the photometry area set in step S102 or S103. At this time, for example, based on the control of the processing / control unit 21, the photometric value calculation unit 20 calculates a photometric value related to photographing light (here, infrared light) from the photometric region set in step S102 or S103. To do.

  Subsequently, in step S106, the processing / control unit 21 determines whether or not the photographing switch 30 is turned on. If the result of this determination is that the shooting switch 30 is not on (S106 / No), processing returns to step S105.

On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S106 is that the shooting switch 30 has been turned on (S106 / Yes), processing proceeds to step S107.
In step S107, the processing / control unit 21 performs control to perform meibomian gland photographing using infrared light whose exposure amount is adjusted based on the result of photometry in step S105.

  When the process of step S107 ends, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 ends.

As described above, in the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, a photometric area for photographing the eye E is set according to the meibomian gland selected by the meibomian gland selection unit 31.
According to such a configuration, since the optimum photometric area can be set for the selected meibomian gland, meibomian gland photographing with high photometric accuracy by appropriate exposure can be performed. That is, the meibomian gland of the eye to be examined can be properly imaged.

  In the example described above, it is assumed that the meibomian gland selection unit 31 determines which of the upper and lower meibomian glands is selected based on a selection instruction from the examiner. However, in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a mode in which the meibomian gland selecting unit 31 automatically determines which meibomian gland is selected from the observation image can be applied. is there. In the case of this aspect, for example, by using a difference in infrared reflectance between the skin portion and the back surface of the heel, by setting a threshold value, the back surface portion is determined as a high brightness portion, and depending on the area and shape, It is possible to determine if the meibomian gland is about to be photographed. It is also possible to determine which of the upper and lower meibomian glands is to be imaged from the positional relationship between the pupil Ep of the eye E and the back of the eyelid. For automatic determination of which upper and lower meibomian glands are to be photographed from the observed image, various other techniques applying known image processing can be employed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the first embodiment, the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 100 that performs photographing in the meibomian gland photographing mode in which the outer eye part (anterior eye part) Ef of the eye E to be examined is photographed with infrared light has been mainly described. However, there is also a demand for photographing the external eye portion Ef of the eye E to be examined with visible light. This imaging with visible light is performed for the purpose of observing the appearance of the iris or white eye portion of the eye E, the skin portion around the eye E, and the like. This visible light extraocular imaging does not aim at meibomian gland imaging, so it is not necessary to perform the meibomian gland photometry described in the first embodiment. In this visible light extraocular imaging, since there are various subjects, it is difficult to perform automatic exposure for each subject. If automatic exposure is to be performed, it is desirable to perform an average metering of the entire screen and perform exposure correction as necessary by the examiner. In the second embodiment, a case where this visible light extraocular imaging is performed will be described.

  The schematic configuration of the ophthalmic imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as the schematic configuration of the ophthalmic imaging apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The processing procedure in the control method of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in the control method of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  First, in step S201, the processing / control unit 21 determines whether or not the meibomian gland photographing mode is selected by the photographing mode selection unit 29. If the result of this determination is that the meibomian gland photographing mode is selected (S201 / Yes), the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is performed.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S201, if the meibomian gland photographing mode is not selected (S201 / No), the process proceeds to step S202.
In step S202, the processing / control unit 21 determines whether or not the visible light extraocular region photographing mode is selected by the photographing mode selection unit 29. As a result of this determination, when the visible light extra-ocular imaging mode is not selected (S202 / No), the fundus imaging mode is selected by the imaging mode selection unit 29, and therefore the fundus imaging mode is selected. Shooting based on. Here, since the photographing based on the fundus photographing mode is a well-known photographing, the description thereof is omitted.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S202, if the visible light extraocular region photographing mode is selected (S202 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S203.
In step S203, the processing / control unit 21 sets the entire screen area of the monitor 23 as a photometric area of the eye E to be inspected for visible light extraocular imaging. Then, the processing / control unit 21 selects average metering for metering by averaging the luminance of the entire screen area.

  That is, the processing / control unit 21 selects the meibomian gland by the meibomian gland selection unit 31 in the first embodiment when the imaging mode selection unit 29 selects the visible light extraocular region imaging mode and FIG. The operation of the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus 100 is controlled so as not to set the photometry area 52 or the photometry area 53 shown. The processing / control unit 21 that performs the operation control constitutes an operation control unit.

  Subsequently, in step S204, the processing / control unit 21 performs control to perform photometry according to the photometry area or the like set in step S203.

  Subsequently, in step S205, the processing / control unit 21 determines whether or not the photographing switch 30 is turned on. If the result of this determination is that the shooting switch 30 is not on (S205 / No), processing returns to step S204.

On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S205 is that the shooting switch 30 has been turned on (S205 / Yes), processing proceeds to step S206.
In step S206, the processing / control unit 21 performs control to perform imaging of the outer eye part with visible light (visible light from the white LED light source 15) whose exposure amount is adjusted based on the result of photometry in step S204. To do.

  When the process of step S206 ends, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 ends.

  According to the second embodiment, it is possible to perform an optimum automatic exposure operation in each of the meibomian gland photographing using infrared light and the visible light extraocular photographing.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.
This program and a computer-readable storage medium storing the program are included in the present invention.

  Note that the above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely examples of implementation in practicing the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. It is. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

51 Meibomian gland, 52, 53 Photometric area

Claims (9)

An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus for photographing an eye to be examined,
Shooting mode selection means for selecting one shooting mode from a plurality of shooting modes;
When the meibomian gland photographing mode for photographing the meibomian gland of the eye to be examined is selected in the photographing mode selection means, the upper eyelid meibomian gland located on the upper eyelid side of the eye to be examined and the lower eyelid side of the eye to be examined A meibomian gland selection means for selecting any one of the meibomian glands of the lower arm meibomian gland,
An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus comprising: setting means for setting a photometric area when photographing the meibomian gland of the eye to be examined according to the meibomian gland selected by the meibomian gland selecting means.   The setting means sets the photometry area to be set when the upper meibomian gland is selected by the meibomian gland selection means, and sets the photometry area when the lower meibomian gland is selected by the meibomian gland selection means. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ophthalmologic photographing apparatus is set as an area wider than the area.   The setting means sets the photometry area to be set when the lower limb meibomian gland is selected by the meibomian gland selection means, and sets the photometry area when the upper limb meibomian gland is selected by the meibomian gland selection means. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ophthalmic photographing apparatus is set at a position below the region. An infrared light source that outputs infrared light to the subject eye when the meibomian gland photographing mode for photographing the meibomian gland of the subject eye is selected in the photographing mode selection means;
A photometric value calculating means for calculating a photometric value related to the infrared light from the photometric area set by the setting means;
The output control means for controlling the output of the infrared light from the infrared light source based on the photometric value calculated by the photometric value calculating means. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to any one of the above.   The ophthalmologic according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising display control means for performing control to display the photometric area set by the setting means on the observation image of the eye to be examined. Shooting device. The plurality of imaging modes include a visible light external eye imaging mode for imaging the external eye of the eye to be examined with visible light,
When the visible light extraocular photographing mode is selected by the photographing mode selecting unit, the ophthalmic photographing apparatus is configured not to select the meibomian gland by the meibomian gland selecting unit and to set the photometric region by the setting unit. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation control unit configured to control the operation. A method for controlling an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus for photographing an eye to be examined,
A shooting mode selection step for selecting one shooting mode from a plurality of shooting modes;
When the meibomian gland photographing mode for photographing the meibomian gland of the eye to be examined is selected in the photographing mode selection step, the upper eyelid meibomian gland located on the upper eyelid side of the eye to be examined and the lower eyelid side of the eye to be examined A meibomian gland selection step for selecting one of the meibomian glands of the lower arm meibomian gland
A control method for an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus, comprising: a setting step of setting a photometric area when photographing the meibomian gland of the eye to be examined according to the meibomian gland selected in the meibomian gland selection step. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus for photographing an eye to be examined,
A shooting mode selection step for selecting one shooting mode from a plurality of shooting modes;
When the meibomian gland photographing mode for photographing the meibomian gland of the eye to be examined is selected in the photographing mode selection step, the upper eyelid meibomian gland located on the upper eyelid side of the eye to be examined and the lower eyelid side of the eye to be examined A meibomian gland selection step for selecting one of the meibomian glands of the lower arm meibomian gland
A program for causing a computer to execute a setting step of setting a photometric area when photographing the meibomian gland of the eye to be examined according to the meibomian gland selected in the meibomian gland selection step. An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus for photographing an eye to be examined,
Photographing means;
Different photometry when photographing the upper eyelid meibomian gland located on the upper eyelid side of the eye to be examined and photographing the lower eyelid meibomian gland located on the lower eyelid side of the eye to be examined. An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus comprising: setting means for setting a region.