JP2006129949A - Optometer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately prevent a subject from being infected with bacteria or viruses causing conjunctivitis. <P>SOLUTION: The subject optometer has an optometrical optical system for examining the eyes to be examined via optometrical windows arranged on a body of the optometer. The optometer is provided with transparent protecting members arranged on the optometrical windows and ultraviolet light sources for irradiating the transparent protecting windows with bactericidal ultraviolet light. The optometer further has contacting members arranged on the circumferences of the optometrical windows for contacting with the face of the subject, and the transparent protecting members attached as one to the contacting members and arranged on the optometrical windows. The contacting members are mounted on the body of the optometer detachably. By detaching the contacting members and the transparent protecting members as one from the body of the optometer, the members are irradiated with ultraviolet radiation in an ultraviolet sterilizer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optometry apparatus used for examining or measuring an eye to be examined.

Some optometry apparatuses that inspect an eye to be examined through an optometry window provided in the optometry apparatus main body perform an examination in a state in which the eye to be examined and the optometry window are quite close to each other. For example, there is a subjective optometry apparatus in which optical elements such as various lenses arranged on a lens disk are switched and arranged in the optometry window to inspect the refractive power of the eye to be examined (see Patent Document 1). In this type of apparatus, when the apex of the cornea is positioned 12 mm from the rear surface of the lens in the optometry apparatus body, the eyelashes and eyelids of the subject may come into contact with the protective glass that is a transparent member disposed in the optometry window. is there. In addition, secretions such as eye stains and tears may adhere to the protective glass and the surrounding device surface.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-137188

  Conventionally, as a countermeasure to the protective glass of the optometry window and the deposit on the surface of the surrounding device, a method of cleaning / disinfecting using absorbent cotton soaked with alcohol has been used. However, some bacteria and viruses that cause conjunctivitis cannot be killed by alcohol sterilization, and countermeasures for preventing infection to other subjects have not always been sufficient.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an optometry apparatus that can more appropriately prevent infection of a subject with bacteria or viruses that cause conjunctivitis.

(1) In an optometry apparatus including an optometry optical system that inspects an eye to be examined through an optometry window disposed in an optometry apparatus body, a transparent protection member disposed in the optometry window, and toward the transparent protection member An ultraviolet light source for irradiating ultraviolet light for sterilization is provided.
(2) In the optometry apparatus of (1), based on the detection means for detecting whether or not the eye to be examined is at the optometry position or whether the optometry apparatus body is at the predetermined optometry position, and the detection result of the detection means And a control means for controlling on / off of the ultraviolet light source.
(3) In the optometry apparatus according to (1), the optometry apparatus includes an detachable member that is placed around the optometry window and is detachably provided on the optometry apparatus body, and the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source is emitted from the ultraviolet light source. It was provided in the position irradiated only to a protection member and the said attachment / detachment member.
(4) In an optometry apparatus including an optometry optical system that examines an eye to be examined through an optometry window disposed in the optometry apparatus body, the contact member is placed around the optometry window and contacts a subject's face. The contact member, which is detachably provided on the optometry apparatus main body, and a transparent protective member that is integrally attached to the contact member and disposed on the optometry window, is removed from the optometry apparatus main body. And the said transparent protective member integral with this was made into the structure which can be irradiated with an ultraviolet-ray with an ultraviolet sterilizer, The optometry apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.
(5) In the optometry apparatus according to (4), the optometry window is provided with a second transparent protective member fixed to the apparatus main body, and the two transparent members when the contact member is attached to the optometry apparatus main body. An optometry apparatus having a double structure with a protective member.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the infection to the test subject of the bacterium and virus which cause conjunctivitis can be prevented more appropriately.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an optometry apparatus that subjectively examines the refractive power of an eye, FIG. 1 (a) is a view when viewed from the subject side, and FIG. 1 (b) is a view when viewed from the side. It is a figure of time.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes an optometry apparatus body. The optometry apparatus body 1 includes a pair of left and right lens chamber units 60 and a moving unit 6 that supports the left and right lens chamber units 60 in a suspended manner. The moving unit 6 includes a slide mechanism that adjusts the distance between the left and right lens chamber units 60 in order to change the distance between the optometry windows 61 in accordance with the distance between the pupils of the subject, and the convergence angle (hitting angle) of the left and right lens chamber units 60. A moving means having a convergence mechanism for adjusting the approach angle is provided inside. Further, the optometry apparatus main body 1 is supported by being suspended by a support arm 4, and the support arm 4 is supported by a column 5 provided on an optometry table (not shown). The support column 5 is held on the optometry table so as to be movable up and down. A vertical movement switch 41 is provided at the handle portion at the tip of the support arm 4. When an ON signal of the vertical movement switch 41 is input, the lock mechanism 51 of the column 5 is released, and the column 5 can be moved up and down manually. It is said. As a result, the optometry apparatus main body 1 can be moved between the upper retraction position and the lower optometry position. When the ON signal of the vertical movement switch 41 is not input, the position is fixed by the electromagnetic brake of the lock mechanism 51 at the optometry position and the retracted position.

  70 is a forehead abutting against the forehead of the subject, and 71 is a connecting portion for connecting the forehead 70 and the moving unit 6. The forehead support 70 has a role of holding the subject's head and fixing the position of the subject's eye. A forehead detection mechanism that detects that the subject's forehead has come into contact with the forehead pad 70 (the subject's face is located at a predetermined inspection position) via the connecting portion 71 in the moving unit 6. 72 is built-in.

  Reference numeral 75 denotes a cheek rest (contact member) provided when the subject's face cheek comes into contact with the eye during optometry, and is detachably attached to the pair of left and right lens chamber units 60. As a configuration in which the cheek rest 75 is detachable, a magnet can be used. By preparing a plurality of cheek pads 75, the contaminated cheek pads 75 can be replaced as needed.

  Inside the housings of the left and right lens chamber units 60, a lens disk 64 in which various optical elements 65 (lenses and the like) are arranged (held) on the same circumference as an optometry optical system is rotatably provided. (See FIG. 1 (b)). An optometry optical system such as a lens disposed in the optometry window 61 is switched by an operation signal from the controller 9. Further, the optometry window 61 is provided with a transparent protective glass (protective member) 66 for protecting the optical element 65, the lens disk 64 and the like provided in the housing of the lens chamber unit 60 from the outside.

  On the upper part of the optometry window 61 of the lens chamber unit 60, an ultraviolet lamp 80 for emitting ultraviolet rays having a bactericidal action for sterilizing bacteria and viruses is provided. The ultraviolet lamp 80 is arranged so that the irradiation light is irradiated toward the protective glass 66 and its periphery. The reason why the ultraviolet lamp 80 is provided in the upper part of the lens chamber unit 60 is that it protrudes to the subject side from the optometry window 61, and therefore, the protective glass 66 and its peripheral part can be easily irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Because there is. In addition, as the ultraviolet lamp 80, the thing of a fluorescent tube structure and LED structure can be considered. Reference numeral 100 denotes a control unit that drives the optometry optical system of the optometry apparatus main body 1, and has a role of controlling the turning on / off of the ultraviolet lamp 80 based on the detection signal from the forehead detection mechanism 72.

  When performing the optometry of the subject, the examiner brings the subject's forehead into contact with the forehead pad 70 in order to fix the subject's face. At this time, if the ultraviolet lamp 80 is in the lighting state, the control unit 100 turns off the ultraviolet lamp 80 based on the detection signal of the forehead detection mechanism 72.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram when the eye to be examined is in a predetermined examination position when viewed from the lateral direction. The eye to be examined looks into the target through the eye examination window 61. When the eye is in a predetermined examination position, the corneal apex of the eye to be examined comes to a position 12 mm from the rear surface of the optical element 65 arranged in the eye examination window 61. (VD = 12 mm). In addition, since the distance between the protective glass 66a on the subject side and the apex of the cornea of the eye to be examined is, for example, about 8 mm, oil of eyelashes, eye stains, etc. can adhere to the protective glass and its peripheral part. The nature is high.

  In the optometry, when the eye to be examined is adjusted to a predetermined examination position, the examiner uses an optotype presenting apparatus (not shown) to the eye to be examined via the optometry window 61 of the optometry apparatus body 1 and the optometry optical system. Present a target such as Based on the response from the subject, the subjective refractive power of the eye to be examined is examined by switching the lens or the like disposed in the optometry window 61. When the optometry work is completed and the subject leaves the optometry apparatus main body 1, the examiner wipes the protective glass 66a and its surroundings using absorbent cotton containing alcohol. Thereby, deposits such as tears and eyelashes are wiped off. When the subject leaves the optometry apparatus main body 1, the detection signal input from the forehead detection mechanism 72 to the control unit 100 stops. When the detection signal stops and a predetermined time has elapsed (for example, 30 seconds), the control unit 100 turns on the ultraviolet lamp 80 based on this. The ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 80 have an action of sterilizing bacteria, viruses, and the like that cannot be disinfected by wiping with absorbent cotton, so that the bacteria, viruses, etc. adhering to the protective glass 66a and its surroundings are sterilized. Thereby, it is possible to keep the protective glass 66a and the vicinity thereof that are likely to come into frequent contact with the eye to be examined clean.

  In the above embodiment, the detection signal from the forehead detection mechanism 72 is used as a trigger signal for controlling the turning on / off of the ultraviolet lamp 80, so that the ultraviolet ray is irradiated to the next subject's eye. Can be prevented.

  As another method, the ultraviolet lamp 80 can be turned off when the support arm 4 is moved downward by the vertical movement switch 41 of the support arm 4. Further, when the sensor 52 is attached to the vertically moving portion of the support arm 4 or the support column 5 and the sensor 52 detects that the optometry apparatus body 1 is moved to the optometry position below the upper retracted position, based on the detection signal. It may be configured that the control unit 100 turns off the ultraviolet lamp 80 and turns on the ultraviolet lamp 80 when it is detected that the support arm 4 is moved upward from the optometry position. With such a configuration, in a state where the optometry apparatus main body 1 is capable of optometry, the ultraviolet lamp 80 can be configured not to be lit. Further, the ultraviolet lamp 80 may be turned on by providing a dedicated switch for the ultraviolet lamp in the controller 9 so as to be turned on / off by an input operation of the examiner.

  Further, as a method for detecting whether or not the eye to be examined is at the optometry position, an ultrasonic sensor or the like that is a non-contact detection mechanism may be provided. For example, an ultrasonic sensor may be provided near the forehead 70 and the ultraviolet lamp 80 may be turned off when the subject's face is closer to the ultrasonic sensor than a predetermined distance (for example, 25 cm). In this case, the presence of the subject can be detected more reliably than the contact type, and ultraviolet rays can be prevented from being irradiated to the subject's eyes.

  In addition, the irradiation of ultraviolet rays may be performed by measuring the lighting time by timer measurement after the ultraviolet lamp 80 is turned on, and the control unit 100 may turn off the ultraviolet lamp 80 when a predetermined time has elapsed. Note that the lighting time and output of the ultraviolet lamp 80 are taken into consideration from the time required for killing bacteria and viruses, the life of the ultraviolet lamp 80, power consumption, and the like. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which can set lighting time arbitrarily by an examiner.

  In addition, since the ultraviolet ray also has a function of tanning the resin and the like, the portion irradiated with the ultraviolet ray in the lens chamber unit 60 may be yellowed. . As a countermeasure, it is desirable to provide the ultraviolet light source at a position where the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source is applied only to the cheek rest 75 that can be attached to and detached from the protective glass 66a. For example, an ultraviolet LED 81 can be attached to the tip of the arm 82 as shown in FIG. The arm 82 is configured to freely move the ultraviolet LED 81, and is retracted to a position as indicated by a dotted line portion at the time of optometry. When performing sterilization with ultraviolet rays, the ultraviolet LED 81 may be moved to a position (for example, a solid line portion) where only the protective glass 66a and the removable cheek pad 75 are irradiated with ultraviolet rays. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the lens chamber unit 60 from being yellowed due to the ultraviolet tanning action. In this case, the cheek rest 75 turns yellow, but the cheek rest 75 has a detachable configuration, so that if it is replaced with a new cheek rest 75, an appearance problem does not occur. Note that the arm to which the ultraviolet LED 81 is attached may be a fixed type, and in this case, the arm is configured so as not to interfere with the subject under examination.

  In addition to the apparatus shown in the above embodiment, as an optometry apparatus in which the examination is performed in a state where the eye to be examined and the optometry window are close to each other, for example, there is an automatic sight meter 200 shown in FIG. An optometric optical system for optically positioning an inspection target such as a Landolt ring at a distance of 5 m is housed inside the apparatus main body 201 of the automatic visual acuity meter 200. Enter a response. The control unit of the apparatus main body determines whether the response by the lever 202 is correct or not, and sequentially determines the visual acuity value by changing the cut direction and visual acuity value of the Landolt ring. Also in such an automatic visual acuity meter 200, the protective glass 266 provided on the left and right optometry windows 261 of the apparatus main body 201 and the ultraviolet lamp 280 may be arranged so that ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the periphery thereof. In this example, ultraviolet lamps 280 are provided on the left and right protruding portions of the light shielding cover 205.

  Next, a configuration for improving the public health of the optometry apparatus by a method different from the embodiment described above will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the optometry apparatus according to the second embodiment. As in FIG. 1, this device is a subjective optometry device that switches and arranges various optical elements arranged on a lens disk to an optometry window and subjectively examines the refractive power of the eye to be examined. FIG. 5A is a view seen from the subject side, and FIG. 5B is a view showing a cross-sectional view along the A-A ′ plane. The same components as those in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be saved.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the cheek rest 75 is attached and detached by a thin steel plate 76 secured to the lens chamber unit 60 side of the cheek rest 75 and a magnet 77 secured to the housing of the lens chamber unit 60. It is possible. Further, the protective glass 66 disposed in the optometry window 61 is configured to be integrally attached to the cheek rest 75 around the optometry window 61. For this reason, when the cheek rest 75 is removed from the lens chamber unit 60, the protective glass 66 and the cheek rest 75 are removed in an integrated state.

  The cheek rest 75 integrated with the protective glass 66 thus removed is placed in an ultraviolet sterilizer 110 as shown in FIG. 6 and sterilized by ultraviolet irradiation. At this time, in the cheek rest 75, the deposits due to contact with the subject's cheek are sterilized. Further, the protective glass 66 sterilizes bacteria, viruses and the like that cannot be sterilized by wiping with absorbent cotton. Thereby, it is possible to keep the protective glass 66 and the vicinity thereof that are likely to come into frequent contact with the eye to be examined clean.

  Although the protective glass and the cheek pad can be detached separately, they can be sterilized by the ultraviolet sterilizer. However, it is troublesome for the examiner to attach and detach the cheek pad and the protective glass. Therefore, as described in the present embodiment, the protective glass 66 and the cheek pad 75 are integrated so that the lens chamber unit 60 can be easily attached to and detached from the lens chamber unit 60. I can do it.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration in which the protective glass disposed in the optometry window 61 has a double structure as a further modification of the optometry apparatus of FIG. 68 is a first protective glass integrated with the cheek rest 75, 69 is a second protective glass on the subject side fixed to the lens chamber unit 60, and the cheek integrated with the first protective glass 68. The abutment 75 is configured to be detachable from the lens chamber unit 60 in the same manner as the optometry apparatus shown in FIG. Thereby, it is possible to sterilize by the ultraviolet sterilizer 110.

  With the above-described configuration, even if the cheek rest 75 integrated with the first protective glass 68 is removed from the lens chamber unit 60, dust and dirt in the housing of the lens chamber unit 60 are removed by the second protective glass 69. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the optical element 65 of the optometry optical system from being soiled or failure of the apparatus itself. Furthermore, if the space between the first protective glass 68 and the second protective glass is secured, the fogging of the protective glass 68 caused by condensation of sweat generated from the face of the subject can be reduced.

1 is a schematic view of an optometry apparatus that subjectively examines the refractive power of an eye to be examined. It is a figure when the time to be examined is seen from the horizontal direction when it is in a predetermined examination position. It is a figure which shows the structure which attached ultraviolet LED to the front-end | tip of an arm. It is the schematic of an automatic visual acuity meter. It is a figure explaining the structure of the optometry apparatus of a 2nd Example. It is a figure explaining an ultraviolet sterilizer. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure which made protective glass the double structure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optometry apparatus main body 52 Sensor 61 Optometry window 66 Protective glass 68 1st protective glass 69 2nd protective glass 72 Forehead detection mechanism 75 Cheek rest 76 Iron plate 77 Magnet 80 Ultraviolet lamp 81 Ultraviolet LED
82 Arm 100 Control unit 200 Automatic sight meter 266 Protective glass 280 UV lamp

Claims (5)

In an optometry apparatus including an optometry optical system for inspecting an eye to be examined through an optometry window disposed in an optometry apparatus body, a transparent protective member disposed in the optometry window, and a sterilizing agent toward the transparent protection member An optometry apparatus comprising: an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light. 2. The optometry apparatus according to claim 1, wherein detection means for detecting whether or not an eye to be examined is at an optometry position or whether or not an optometry apparatus body is at a predetermined optometry position, and the ultraviolet ray based on a detection result of the detection means. An optometry apparatus comprising: control means for controlling turning on and off of the light source. 2. The optometry apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detachable member placed around the optometry window and detachably provided on the optometry apparatus body, wherein the ultraviolet light source is irradiated with the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source. An optometry apparatus provided at a position where only the detachable member is irradiated. In an optometry apparatus including an optometry optical system that examines an eye to be examined through an optometry window disposed in an optometry apparatus body, the contact member is placed around the optometry window and contacts a subject's face, The contact member provided detachably on the optometry apparatus main body, and a transparent protective member integrally attached to the contact member and disposed on the optometry window, and the contact member removed from the optometry apparatus main body and the contact member An optometry apparatus characterized in that the integrated transparent protective member can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays by an ultraviolet sterilizer. 5. The optometry apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the optometry window is provided with a second transparent protection member fixed to the apparatus main body, and the two transparent protection members when the contact member is attached to the optometry apparatus main body. An optometric apparatus characterized by having a double structure.