JP2001286442A - System and method for remotely measuring visual acuity - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and method capable of remotely measuring a visual acuity through a network. SOLUTION: The system for remotely measuring the visual acuity is constituted of a user client 1, a visual acuity measurement service center, and a network connecting them. The system comprises a visual acuity measurement data inputting means 4 for registering data including at least the standard for measuring the visual acuity inputted from the user client 1, a means for extracting visual acuity measurement data including at least one degree of the visual acuity among the myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism based on the standard for measuring the visual acuity inputted by the user client 1, and an output means for outputting the result of the visual acuity measurement including the extracted data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote visual acuity measuring system and a method for measuring uncorrected visual acuity or corrected visual acuity over a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, the measurement of the visual acuity or the corrected visual acuity is performed by going to an ophthalmologist and receiving medical treatment, or by measuring the visual acuity using a visual acuity measuring device prepared at an eyeglass store. Is being done. In recent years, for example, a virtual shopping street has been formed on a network such as the Internet, and a system capable of measuring naked-eye vision and corrected vision online at an eyeglass store provided in this virtual shopping street is disclosed. not exist.

[0003]

In order to go to a medical institution or a spectacle store, there is a long-awaited need for a system capable of remotely measuring visual acuity via the Internet when time and distance are difficult. I have. In particular, if the current glasses or contacts are making it more difficult to see things than before, a remote check will be needed to determine whether it is necessary to replace the glasses or contacts. It is very convenient to be able to measure the visual acuity of the naked eye or the visual acuity after correction. Hence,
A main object of the present invention is to provide a system and a method capable of measuring visual acuity remotely via a network.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote visual acuity measuring system comprising a user client, a visual acuity measuring service center, and a network connecting them. A visual acuity measurement information input means for registering data including at least a standard for measuring visual acuity input from a client, and a myopia, a hyperopia and an astigmatism based on a standard for measuring a visual acuity input from a user client. A remote visual acuity measuring system including: means for extracting visual acuity measurement data including at least one degree; and output means for outputting a visual acuity measurement result including the extracted data. The invention of claim 2 is
A method for remotely measuring visual acuity by a user client, a visual acuity measurement service center, and a network connecting them, wherein data including at least a reference for measuring a visual acuity input from the user client is registered. Inputting visual acuity measurement information, extracting visual acuity measurement data including at least one of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism based on a criterion for measuring visual acuity input from a user client; And outputting an eyesight measurement result including the obtained data.

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a remote visual acuity measuring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, this remote visual acuity measuring system comprises a user client 1 and an electronic service center 2 hardware. These are physically connected by a network. In the following description,
The description will be made assuming that the network connecting the user client 1 and the electronic service center 2 is the Internet. This remote visual acuity measuring system extracts visual acuity measurement data such as the degree of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism based on data that sets a reference for measuring visual acuity input from the user client 1, and extracts the extracted data. The system includes an output unit that outputs an eyesight measurement result including the electronic service center 2.

The electronic service center 2 includes a visual acuity measurement server, and includes a user information registration unit 3, a visual acuity measurement information input unit 4, a database management unit 5, an image processing unit 6, a voice processing unit 7, and a visual acuity data creating unit 8. Prepared, and W
A WW (World Wide Web) server 9 is provided. Specifically, it is configured with an information processing device including a personal computer, a workstation, a server, and the like. User information registration means 3, visual acuity measurement information input means 4, database management means 5, image processing means 6, voice processing means 7, visual acuity data creation means 8, and WWW
The server 9 is actually stored and executed in the form of a program in a memory of the information processing device. The database managed by the database management means 5 is stored in a storage device such as a porcelain disk device or an optical disk device. The electronic service center 2 is connected to the user client 1 via a wide area computer network (Internet).

The database management means 5 includes user information registration means 3, visual acuity measurement information input means 4, image processing means 6,
A user information database, a reference database for measuring visual acuity, a visual acuity measurement database, a visual acuity table database, a myopia information database by using the voice processing means 7 for information collected from the user client 1 and information created by the electronic service center 2 and the like. , Managed as a hyperopia information database and astigmatism information database, and as a user information database, a reference database for measuring eyesight, an eyesight measurement database, an eyesight table database, a myopia information database, a hyperopia information database, and an astigmatism information database in a storage device. This is a means having a function of browsing stored information. The database management unit 5 also has an extraction unit that extracts data based on a specific condition, and also has a transmission unit that transmits certain information to the user client 1.

The user information registration means 3 stores data relating to a user, that is, a person who seeks visual acuity measurement, for example, basic attributes such as an address, a name, a date of birth, and a telephone number; This is a means for collecting data for identifying a user, such as a request for glasses, a user identifier (ID), a user password, a user code, and the like, and registering and managing the data in a user information database. In addition, as user data, fax number, mail address, UR
Data necessary for specifying or transmitting a user such as L, and data about a computer environment are registered.

The visual acuity measurement information input means 4 is a means for determining and registering a frequency of visual acuity based on data including a reference for measuring a visual acuity transmitted from a user client. The eyesight measurement information input means 4 is a means for registering and managing each data in a reference database for measuring eyesight.

The image processing means 6 reads the Landolt ring of the visual acuity table from a scanner or the like provided (or connected) to the electronic service center 2 and registers and manages it as a visual acuity table database by the database management means 5. This is a means for transmitting a Landolt ring of a visual acuity table registered and managed in the database to the user client 1 for display.

The voice processing means 7 includes a user client 1
Is a means for sending a message to the user by voice based on the screen sent to the user, and determining and managing the voice sent from the user client 1 as data.

The visual acuity data creating means 8 searches for visual acuity measurement data such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism based on a standard for measuring visual acuity input from the user client 1, and retrieves and extracts the data. This is a means for creating a visual acuity measurement result including the obtained data.

The WWW server 9 is a user client 1
Has a WWW server means for constructing a home page, which is used as an interface for accessing the database management means 5 and the like of the electronic service center 2. In addition, the WWW server 9 includes the database management unit 5
Has a user authentication means for authenticating with a password / identifier (ID) whether or not a user who makes a registration / browsing request to a database managed by the user is an authorized user.

The user client 1 is a terminal used when a user applies for eyesight measurement, and is realized by, for example, a personal computer.

The user client 1 is an input / output device serving as an interface with a user who is a user.
Specifically, it is realized by an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and an output device such as a CRT display. The user client 1 has an access means such as a WWW browser as an interface for exchanging various data with the WWW server 9 of the electronic service center 2. When the user client 1 is a personal computer, the WWW browser is realized as a program stored in its memory.

Hereinafter, a case will be described in which this system is realized using a homepage or the like on a network such as the Internet (wide area computer network).

First, the electronic service center 2 has a WWW
A home page is set up on the Internet by the server 9. The user can access the home page of the electronic service center 2 through an access means such as a WWW browser of the user client 1 connected to the wide area computer network.
To request a visual acuity measurement. The electronic service center 2 uses the user authentication means of the WWW server 9 to determine that the user is a registered member by the user's password and / or the user authentication information of the user identifier (ID). After the authentication, the user information registration means 3 of the electronic service center 2 writes and manages the information requested to be registered by the user via the wide area computer network in the user information database.

At this time, if it is determined that the user is a user who uses the visual acuity measuring system for the first time, basic attributes such as an address, a name, a date of birth, a telephone number, the condition of eyes (the hand is hard to see). The user inputs a request for glasses and the like, and transmits an input screen for basic attributes and the like to the user client 1, and the user inputs necessary items by the user client 1 and transmits it to the electronic service center 2. Further, the user also registers a password and / or a user member identifier (ID), and the user information registration means 3 writes information from the user into a user information database via a wide area computer network and manages the information. I do.

FIGS. 2 to 8 show examples of the structure of each database managed by the database management means 5 in the electronic service center 2. FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the user information database includes basic information such as a user code, a user identifier (ID), a user password, an address, a name, a date of birth, and a telephone number as shown in FIG. It is a database that stores and stores user information, including user data colors, including attributes and the like. These user information
The data entered on the user information registration screen transmitted to the user client 1 by the user information registration means 3 is registered. Note that data need not always be registered for all items. User information identifier (I
D) and the password may be determined at the service center based on the user information obtained off-line, or may be automatically given at the first access from the user.

The reference database for measuring visual acuity includes purpose of use, age, previous frequency, binocular vision at the previous frequency, left-right balance at the previous frequency, years of use of front glasses, type of contact (combined use) Case), data such as the desired corrected eyesight and the presence or absence of a disease related to eyesight are stored.

The visual acuity measurement database stores data such as visual acuity, corrected visual acuity, distance between pupils, distance correction power, near correction power, measurement date, and power determiner. The eyesight table database stores data indicating the relationship between the frequency and the Landolt's ring.

The myopia information database registers and manages the degree of myopia, the relationship between myopia and visual acuity, the type of myopia (frequency), and the treatment method. The myopia is defined as the myopia when the eye does not adjust at all. This is an eye in which parallel rays entering the eye form an image at a point in front of the retina (the far point is finite before the eye). The degree of myopia is represented by the reciprocal of the far point distance (eg, far point distance = 50 cm 1 / 0.5 = 2D). The relationship between myopia and visual acuity is as shown in Table 1.

[0024]

[Table 1]

The types (frequency) of myopia are as follows.
Mild myopia (-4D), moderate myopia (-4D to -7)
D) A moderate concave lens is worn as a treatment for myopia with high myopia (−7D to −10D) and maximum myopia (−10D or more).

In the hyperopia information database, the degree of hyperopia, the type of hyperopia, and a hyperopia treatment method are registered and managed. Note that hyperopia is an eye in which parallel rays entering the eye form an image at a point behind the retina when the eye is not adjusting at all (the far point is a finite posterior eye). The degree of hyperopia is represented by the reciprocal of the far-point distance (for example, far-point distance = 50 cm 1 / 0.5 = 2D). The type of hyperopia is represented by the frequency, for example, as follows.
Mild hyperopia (+ 4D), moderate hyperopia (+ 4D to +7)
D), a moderately convex lens is worn as a treatment for hyperopia (+ 7D) hyperopia.

The degree of astigmatism, the type of astigmatism, and the treatment method are registered and managed in the astigmatism information database. Note that astigmatism means that parallel rays entering the eye do not form a single point when the eye is not adjusting at all. The types of astigmatism are
It is as follows. Regular astigmatism (symmetrical asymmetry of the refractive surface) Irregular astigmatism (different degrees of inflection in the same meridian and no imaging) Treatment of astigmatism is as follows. Uniform astigmatism (wearing a moderate cylindrical lens) Complexity astigmatism (wearing by combining a cylindrical lens and a spherical lens) Illegal astigmatism (wearing a contact lens)

Next, a method of measuring visual acuity by the remote visual acuity measuring system will be described below. First, a method for measuring naked-eye visual acuity will be described. First, when the user client 1 connects to the electronic service center 2, an ID code input screen is transmitted as a user authentication screen. The user authentication screen is a screen for prompting input of user authentication information.
The user client 1 receives and displays the user authentication screen, inputs the user authentication information, and transmits it to the electronic service center 2. The user authentication information is information such as a password and a user ID. In the electronic service center 2, the user authentication information is received, and based on this, the database management means 5 and the user information management means 3 search the user information database to perform authentication. In the electronic service center 2, the database management means 5 transmits a service menu screen as a user member top page to the user client 1. The user client 1 receives and displays the service menu screen. Next, on the service menu screen, the user clicks “Measurement of naked eye acuity” when measuring naked eye acuity.

First, an outline of a method for measuring the visual acuity of the naked eye will be described. The user closes one eye with his / her hand and looks at the naked eye visual acuity measurement screen (FIG. 9) with one eye. On the naked eye visual acuity measurement screen (FIG. 9), a point to be watched with one eye is shown. The user fixes the neck and keeps the distance from the naked-eye visual acuity measurement screen (FIG. 9) constant. For example, put your neck on the palm of your hand to secure your face and your elbows on your desk. Then, in order to keep the distance from the naked eye visual acuity measurement screen (FIG. 9) constant, a 30 cm ruler is placed on the screen to make the distance about 30 cm. The electronic service center 2 includes an eyesight measurement information input unit 4
Represents the Landolt ring 1.0 of the eyesight chart at the point of “x” on the screen. In the electronic service center 2, the distance from the naked eye visual acuity measurement screen (FIG. 9) is determined by the visual acuity measurement information input means 4, and a visual acuity table having a size corresponding to a visual acuity of 1.0 is displayed. The electronic service center 2 looks at the Landolt ring of the eyesight chart (FIG. 10) with one eye.
As a result, the user is asked by a message on the screen or by voice by the voice processing means 7 "Do you see a vacant ring?" If you can see it, click YES with your mouse (answer by voice). Further, an inquiry screen is transmitted to the user client 1 by the visual acuity measurement information input means 4 of the electronic service center 2, and a question "Where is free?" ,
Select from eight directions: bottom, left, right, top left, bottom left, top right, bottom right, and click the mouse (reply by voice). If the direction is correct, a visual acuity table of degree 1.2 is displayed, and the same procedure is repeated. If it is not visible or the direction of vacancy is wrong, a visual acuity table lower than the visual acuity before the electronic service center 2 is displayed on the user client 1, and the same procedure is repeated. In the electronic service center 2, the correct answer frequency immediately before the visual acuity in which the error has continued twice is determined as the naked eye visual acuity. Then do the same for the other eye.

Next, a method for measuring the corrected visual acuity will be described. In the electronic service center 2, naked eyesight is input on a homepage. The naked-eye visual acuity data includes data measured on the net in the procedure of the above-mentioned “method of measuring naked-eye visual acuity”, the prescription data of the ophthalmologist, and the previous visual acuity data managed by the electronic service center 2. The electronic service center 2 provides the user client 1 with a post-correction visual acuity measurement screen after correcting a Landolt's ring after using a lens such that the corrected visual acuity becomes 1.2 per eye based on the input naked eye visual acuity. Send and display. That is,
The “Landolt ring that seems to be so” is displayed on the post-correction visual acuity measurement screen. The user client 1 looks at the Landolt ring displayed on the screen of the user client 1 with the naked eye with one eye closed, and measures the appearance of about 1.2 degrees. If the user client 1 is well-viewed, the user clicks on “look good”, and the electronic service center 2 determines the frequency as corrected vision by transmission from the user client 1. If you can't see it well, click on "I don't see well" and click on Electronic Service Center 2.
Then, the astigmatism is determined by the transmission from the user client 1, and the process proceeds to the step of performing the astigmatism inspection.

In the astigmatism inspection step, a user's client uses a visual acuity table showing a Landolt ring having a mouth directly above the electronic service center 2 and four Landolt rings having a mouth just below, 90 degrees to the left and 90 degrees to the right. 1, the user can determine the astigmatism and the axis of astigmatism based on the appearance of the Landolt's ring on the corrected vision measurement screen transmitted to the user client 1. The frequency determination points at the time of astigmatism measurement are as follows. By slowly rotating the Landolt ring, it is checked whether there is a position where the break of the Landolt ring is connected. If there is a connected position, the user client 1 uses the mouse on the post-correction visual acuity measurement screen at that time. click. The axis of astigmatism (AXIS) is specified by the electronic service center 2 based on the clicked position. The same test is performed several times, and if there is a variation, the corrected eyesight measurement screen to which the spherical power (SPH) is added is transmitted from the electronic service center 2 to the user client 1, and the same test is performed again. If the break is not connected, the user client 1 determines that there is no astigmatism in the electronic service center 2 by clicking “not connected” on the corrected eyesight measurement screen. Furthermore, the electronic service center 2 transmits a radial index image to the user client 1, and the user client 1 determines the positions of the darkest line and the lightest line on the corrected eyesight measurement screen, and uses the positions. The electronic service center 2 specifies the axis of astigmatism (AXIS) by having the client 1 click with the mouse. If the astigmatism can be identified, a visual acuity table showing the Landolt's ring after correcting the astigmatism is displayed on the screen, and the appearance is checked.

When the correction can be made to the degree of 1.2, it is determined that the corrected visual acuity is obtained. The corrected vision is "I want to correct exactly = 1.
2, “I want to loosen = 0.8” and “Normal = 1.0” are set so that they can be selected. For those who wish to use for both distance and near, both distance and near can be measured.

For a person who wishes to use pre-existing reading glasses, the presbyopia power which can be judged from the age can be determined. The power determination system at the time of measuring presbyopia is as follows. The user client 1 inputs age, occupation, use of glasses, hobbies, sports, presence of illness, and the like on the questionnaire screen transmitted from the electronic service center 2 to the user client 1. The frequency under the above conditions is determined in advance based on the user database of the electronic service center 2. Is determined by linking with.

Thus, in the case of myopia, the degree of myopia,
Data on the relationship between myopia and visual acuity, and the type (frequency) of myopia is extracted from the myopia information database and displayed. In the case of hyperopia, the degree of hyperopia and the type (frequency) of hyperopia are extracted from the hyperopia information database and displayed. In the case of astigmatism, it is extracted from the astigmatism information database based on the degree of astigmatism, the relationship between the Landolt's ring and the frequency, and the relationship between the axes of astigmatism, and displayed.

The visual acuity measurement result of the electronic service center 2 is transmitted to the user client 1 and displayed, for example, as shown in FIG. DIST represents distance power, and READ represents near power. SPH represents spherical power, CYL represents astigmatic power, AXIS represents an axis, and P.S. D. Represents the distance from the center of the right eye to the center of the left eye. That is, it represents the distance between pupils. Note that both the distance power and the near power are expressed for the right eye (R) and the left eye (L).

[0036]

According to the present invention, any person can remotely measure naked-eye vision or corrected vision through the Internet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration example of a remote visual acuity measuring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a database structure related to user information managed by a database management unit in a service center.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a database structure related to reference information for measuring eyesight managed by a database management unit in a service center.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a database structure related to eyesight measurement information managed by a database management unit in a service center.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a database structure related to an eyesight table managed by a database management unit in a service center.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a database structure related to myopia information managed by a database management unit in a service center.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a database structure related to hyperopia information managed by a database management unit in a service center.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a database structure related to astigmatism information managed by a database management unit in a service center.

FIG. 9 is a naked eye visual acuity measurement screen for a user client.

FIG. 10 is a screen displaying a visual acuity table for a user.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a result of eyesight measurement.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 User client 2 Electronic service center 3 User information registration means 4 Eyesight measurement information input means 5 Database management means 6 Image processing means 7 Voice processing means 8 Eyesight data creation means 9 WWW server

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A remote visual acuity measuring system comprising a user client, a visual acuity measuring service center, and a network connecting them, for measuring at least visual acuity input from the user client. A visual acuity measurement information inputting means for registering data including a reference of the following, and a visual acuity measurement data including at least one of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism based on a standard for measuring visual acuity input from a user client. A remote visual acuity measurement system, comprising: means for extracting; and output means for outputting a visual acuity measurement result including the extracted data. 2. A method for remotely measuring visual acuity by a user client, a visual acuity measuring service center, and a network connecting them, comprising: a reference for measuring at least the visual acuity input from the user client. An eyesight measurement information input step of registering data including the following, and extracting eyesight measurement data including at least one of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism based on a criterion for measuring eyesight input from a user client. And a step of outputting a visual acuity measurement result including the extracted data.