JP2014226371A - Ophthalmic photographing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ophthalmic photographing apparatus that enables photographing in which the time for photographing is shortened depending on a combination of the kind of photography and the mydriasis state of the subject eye.SOLUTION: An ophthalmic photographing apparatus comprises: a photographing optical system for observing and imaging a subject eye; focusing means for obtaining a focus state of the photographing optical system with respect to the subject eye; and alignment means for performing alignment between the subject eye and the photographing optical system. For the ophthalmic photographing apparatus are provided: left/right eye detection means for discrimination between the left and right eyes; photographing sequence storage means for storing the photographing sequences when actuating the focusing means and the alignment means to photograph each of the left and right eyes plural times; and photographing sequence input means for selecting and executing a photographing sequence.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus such as a fundus camera used in a group medical examination or an ophthalmic clinic.

Conventionally, fundus photography using a fundus camera has been widely used for the purpose of screening by group medical examination and diagnosis of ophthalmic diseases. In recent years, a method for recording a fundus image as digital data is generally widely used, and photographing data is recorded on a portable recording medium, a hard disk drive built in a PC, or the like.
Further, in fundus imaging, there are a case where a mydriatic agent or the like is used and the pupil of the subject's eye is dilated, and a case where a natural mydriatic image is taken without using a mydriatic agent or the like.

There are three types of fundus cameras: general color photography, autofluorescence photography (hereinafter referred to as FAF photography) for photographing fundus autofluorescence, and stereo photography that allows the fundus to be obtained in three dimensions by taking parallax. And anterior segment imaging for imaging the iris and pupil.
For example, in fundus imaging at an ophthalmologist's office, in addition to color imaging, FAF imaging may be used to make multifaceted diagnosis on the eye to be examined.

  As described above, there are several types of photographing by the fundus camera. For this reason, the photographer may not know what kind of fundus photographing should be performed, or may forget to photograph a fundus image necessary for diagnosis. There is also a problem that the photographing procedure becomes complicated.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, Patent Document 1 registers and displays an imaging sequence as an imaging procedure, so that it is easy for the photographer to perform what kind of fundus imaging at the time of imaging. A medical imaging apparatus that can be known is disclosed.

JP 2010-5073 A

In the fundus camera of Patent Document 1, even if the photographer can know what kind of fundus photographing must be performed at the time of photographing, it does not always take the photographing time into consideration.
For example, consider a case where color imaging and FAF imaging are performed on both eyes for an eye to be examined that is not instilled with a mydriatic agent.

  The shooting sequence display screen has (No.1, color shooting, right eye), (No.2, color shooting, left eye), (No.3, FAF shooting, right eye), (No.4, FAF shooting) , Left eye), etc., so you can prevent missing photos, but (No.1, color photography, right eye) → (No.3, FAF photography, right eye) → (No.2, When shooting in the order of color shooting, left eye) → (No.4, FAF shooting, left eye), (No.1, color shooting, right eye) → (No.3, FAF shooting, right eye) ), Miosis occurs, so you have to wait until the subject's eye becomes mydriatic. The same applies to (No.2, color photography, left eye) → (No.4, FAF photography, left eye), and the patient must wait until the subject's eyes become mydriatic.

  In this case, the imaging efficiency is lowered for the examiner, and there is a possibility that the imaging time becomes longer for the examinee.

  Furthermore, there is a problem that it is complicated for the examiner because it is necessary to manually perform the alignment of the eye to be examined and the fundus camera body, and the focus adjustment of the eye to be examined.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus in which photographing time is shortened and complexity of operation by an examiner is eliminated.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a photographing optical system for observing and photographing a subject eye, a focusing means for obtaining a focusing state of the photographing optical system with respect to the subject eye, and the subject subject. Alignment means for aligning the optometry and the imaging optical system, left and right eye detection means for discriminating the right and left of the eye to be examined, and the focusing means and the alignment means are operated so that the left and right eyes to be inspected a plurality of times. An imaging sequence storage unit that stores an imaging sequence at the time of imaging and an imaging sequence input unit that selects and executes the imaging sequence are provided.

  According to the present invention, the imaging time can be shortened, and the complexity of operation by the examiner can be eliminated. Therefore, the imaging efficiency can be improved for the examiner, and the imaging load can be reduced for the subject. It becomes.

It is a block diagram of the block diagram of the fundus camera by 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the optical system comprised by the imaging | photography part of a fundus camera. FIG. 6 is a view showing an observation image on a two-dimensional image sensor 65 of the anterior ocular segment observation optical system. 3 is a diagram showing an observation image on the image sensor 14. FIG. It is the figure which showed the imaging | photography sequence in the case of image | photographing left and right eyes. It is the figure which showed the imaging | photography sequence in the case of performing stereo imaging | photography of both eyes.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a fundus camera of this embodiment which is an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus. The fundus camera C includes a base C1 and an imaging unit C2 in which an optical system that can move in the left-right direction (X direction), front and rear (working distance, Z direction), and up and down (Y direction) with respect to the base C1 is housed. It has.

  The imaging unit C2 is moved in a three-dimensional (XYZ) direction with respect to the eye E by a driving unit including a pulse motor or the like provided on the base C1. Further, the photographing unit C2 can be moved in the XYZ directions by operating the joystick C3.

  Next, an optical system configured in the photographing unit C2 of the fundus camera C will be described with reference to FIG. The optical system corresponds to a photographing optical system that observes and images the eye to be examined.

  On the optical axis L1, an observation light source 1 that emits steady light such as a halogen lamp, a condenser lens 2, a filter 3 that transmits infrared light and blocks visible light, a light source 4 for shooting such as a strobe, a lens 5, and a mirror 6 is arranged, and on the optical axis L2 in the reflection direction of the mirror 6, a ring diaphragm 7 having a ring-shaped opening, a relay lens 8, and a perforated mirror 9 having a central opening are sequentially arranged.

  On the optical axis L3 in the reflection direction of the perforated mirror 9, the dichroic mirror 24 and the objective lens 10 are arranged so as to face the eye E. The dichroic mirror 24 is inserted into and removed from the optical axis L3. It is possible. A photographing aperture 11 is disposed in the hole portion of the perforated mirror 9, and a focus lens 12, a photographing lens 13, and a half mirror 100 for adjusting the focus by moving the position on the optical axis L3 behind the aperture. They are arranged sequentially. At the end of the half mirror 100, an image sensor 14 that combines movie observation and still image shooting is sequentially arranged, and an internal fixation lamp 101 is arranged at the end of the optical axis L4 that is the reflection direction of the half mirror 100. Yes.

  The output of the image sensor 14 is connected to the image processing unit 17, the output of the image processing unit 17 is connected to the system control unit 18, and the image processing unit 17 is an observation image captured by the image sensor 14 on the monitor 15. Is projected.

  Here, the configuration of the alignment (alignment) and focusing (focus) optical systems will be described.

First, the configuration of the anterior ocular segment observation optical system for alignment will be described.
On the optical axis L5 in the reflection direction of the dichroic mirror 24, the anterior eye for observing the anterior segment by the lens 61, the diaphragm 62, the prism 63, the lens 64, and the two-dimensional imaging device 65 having infrared sensitivity. Partial observation optical system is formed. Here, the light incident on the prism 63 is refracted and separated in the opposite left and right directions in the upper half and the lower half of the prism 63. For this reason, when the distance between the eye E and the imaging unit C2 is longer than the appropriate working distance, the image formation position by the lens 61 forms an image closer to the lens 61 than the prism 63, and the upper half of the observation image is The lower half is imaged on the right side and shifted to the left side. By these anterior ocular segment observation optical systems, the anterior segment of the eye E to be inspected illuminated by the anterior segment observing light source 105 in the infrared region different from the wavelength transmitted through the filter 3 that blocks visible light is observed and The alignment state of the optometry E with the anterior eye portion can be detected.

Next, the configuration of the alignment index projection optical system will be described.
An exit end of a light guide 104a for guiding a light beam from the LED light source 103a is disposed on the front surface of the perforated mirror 9, and this exit end is used as an alignment index P1. The alignment index P1 is arranged off the optical axis L3. Further, an emission end of a light guide 104b that guides a light beam from an LED light source 103b having a wavelength similar to that of the LED light source 103a (not shown) is disposed at a position symmetrical to the alignment index P1 around the optical axis L3. This emission end is set as an alignment index P2, and constitutes an alignment index projection optical system. When the working distance between the eye E and the imaging unit C2 is appropriate, the light from the emission ends of the light guide 104a and the light guide 104b is reflected by the cornea surface of the eye E, and the index light beam is parallel. It becomes light and forms an image on the imaging surface of the imaging device 14 through the same optical path as the fundus reflection light flux of the illumination light flux. With the alignment index projection optical system described above, the positional relationship between the alignment indexes can be detected, and the alignment state of the eye E with the fundus Er can be detected.

Finally, the configuration of the focus optical system will be described.
A focus index projection unit 22 is disposed between the ring diaphragm 7 and the relay lens 8 on the optical axis L2. The focus index projection unit 22 is for projecting the split split index onto the pupil Ep of the eye E to be examined. The focus index projection unit 22 and the focus lens 12 are linked to the optical axis L2 and the optical axis L3 directions by the focus lens driving unit 19 and the focus index driving unit 20, respectively, based on control from the system control unit 18. It is supposed to move. At this time, the focus index projection unit 22 and the image sensor 14 are optically conjugate. The focus state of the fundus Er of the eye E can be detected by these focus optical systems.

  The configuration of the alignment (alignment) and focusing (focus) optical systems has been described above. Next, the operation will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  FIG. 3 shows an observation image on the two-dimensional image sensor 65 of the anterior ocular segment observation optical system described in FIG. The anterior eye portion of the eye E illuminated by the anterior eye portion observation light source 105 is vertically divided by the prism 63 and is observed on the two-dimensional image sensor 65 as shown in FIG. The portions other than the pupil appear white because a large amount of reflected light from the anterior eye observation light source 105 is reflected, and the pupil appears black because no reflected light enters. Therefore, the pupil part P is extracted from this contrast difference, and the pupil position is determined. In FIG. 3A, the pupil center PO is detected from the lower pupil part P among the pupil parts P divided vertically. By moving the drive unit provided on the base C1 so that the pupil center PO detected in this way is positioned at the image center O of the two-dimensional image sensor 65 shown in FIG. It is possible to automatically perform alignment with the anterior segment.

  Next, FIG. 4 shows an observation image on the image sensor 14 that combines the moving image observation and still image shooting described in FIG. The alignment indexes P1 and P2 are bright spots by the LED light source 103a and the LED light source 103b described in the alignment index projection optical system, and the guide frame A1 and the guide frame A2 indicate the alignment positions of the alignment indexes P1 and P2, respectively. Yes. The split indexes 22a and 22b indicate indexes divided on the pupil of the eye E by the focus index projection unit 22 of the focus optical system.

  When the anterior segment of the eye E is automatically aligned so as to be in the state of FIG. 3B, the alignment indexes P1 and P2 appear in the vicinity of the guide frame A1 and the guide frame A2, and FIG. The observation image shown in a) is obtained. Here, since the alignment indexes P1 and P2 are higher in luminance than the reflected light from the fundus Er of the eye E illuminated by the observation light source 1, the observation image on the image sensor 14 is binarized. It can be easily detected by performing image processing. Then, the fundus Er of the eye E to be examined is moved by moving the drive unit provided on the base C1 so that the alignment indices P1 and P2 enter the guide frame A1 and the guide frame A2 as in the state of FIG. Can be automatically aligned. The configuration for performing alignment between the eye E to be examined and the imaging optical system described above constitutes an alignment means.

  Further, the focus index projection unit 22 and the focus lens 12 move in conjunction with the optical axis L2 and the optical axis L3 directions based on the control from the system control unit 18, and the image sensor 14 is optically coupled with the focus index projection unit 22. It is a conjugate relationship. Therefore, by moving the focus index projection unit 22 in the optical axis L2 direction, the split indexes 22a and 22b move in the observation image on the image sensor 14, and the focus lens 12 moves in conjunction with the optical axis L3 direction. . That is, by controlling the split indicators 22a and 22b from the state of FIG. 4A to the state of FIG. 4B (straight line) on the image sensor 14, the split indices 22a and 22b are in contact with the fundus Er of the eye E to be examined. It is possible to focus automatically. The configuration for obtaining the in-focus state of the photographing optical system with respect to the eye to be examined described above constructs a focusing means.

  In the present invention, as described later, it is necessary to determine in advance whether the eye to be imaged and observed is the right eye or the left eye. As a determination method, for example, it may be determined from an image of the eye to be examined that is being observed, or an operator may input in advance from which eye the examination is to be started and may be determined by the input. The above configuration constructs left and right eye detection means for determining the left and right of the eye to be examined in the present invention.

  As described above, the fundus camera according to the present embodiment can automatically execute all operations from alignment to focusing by alignment and focusing operations. Needless to say, it is possible to detect the end of the alignment operation and the focusing operation and execute the photographing operation. That is, the examiner can perform automatic photographing with the fundus camera C by pressing a photographing start switch (not shown) in the operation input unit 21. Furthermore, since it is possible to move in the left-right direction (X direction), it is possible to automatically switch the eye to be imaged. With this configuration, the present embodiment will be described as an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus that automatically performs an alignment operation and a focusing operation on a photographing eye and can automatically perform operations up to photographing.

Next, characteristic operations in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 shows a photographing sequence when photographing the left and right eyes with respect to the same eye to be examined in two photographing modes of color photographing and spontaneous fluorescence photographing. The imaging sequence is an imaging procedure including at least one of imaging type, right / left eye imaging presence / absence, mydriatic eye drop information, and the like. Here, in order to reduce the load on the subject, a case will be described in which imaging is performed without instilling a mydriatic agent in both the left and right eyes.

  Conventionally, as shown in the imaging sequence of FIG. 5 (a), color imaging of the right eye is performed at step 501, autofluorescence imaging of the right eye is performed at step 502, and then the left eye is captured at step 503. In step 504, color imaging of the left eye is performed, and autofluorescence imaging of the left eye is performed in step 505. In the shooting sequence described above, the right eye is preferentially shot, but it goes without saying that the left eye may be shot.

  As described above, conventionally, after the photographing of one eye (right eye in FIG. 5A) is completed twice, the other eye (left eye in FIG. 5A) is photographed twice. ing. However, if photographing is performed without instilling the mydriatic agent, the color of the right eye is photographed in step 501, and then the pupil of the subject undergoes miosis. That is, it is necessary to wait until the subject's pupil becomes mydriatic for the time Ta until the start of right-eye autofluorescence imaging in step 502 after completion of color imaging of the right eye in step 501. Similarly, after performing color imaging of the left eye in step 504 and waiting for the subject's pupil to become mydriatic during the time Ta until the start of autofluorescence imaging of the left eye in step 505 There is a need.

  Further, after completion of the right eye autofluorescence imaging in step 502, it is necessary to wait until the subject's pupil becomes mydriatic during the time Tb until the left eye color imaging start in step 504, In this waiting time, switching from the right eye to the left eye is performed in step 503. Conventionally, in order to simplify the alignment operation by the operator, the imaging sequence of FIG.

  On the other hand, as shown in the shooting sequence of FIG. 5B, the right and left eyes are shot alternately, which is a characteristic operation in this embodiment. First, color imaging of the right eye is performed in step 511, switching from the right eye to the left eye is performed in step 512, and after the time Ta ′ has elapsed since the completion of color imaging of the right eye in step 511, step 513 is performed. Take a color picture of the left eye. Next, after elapse of time Ta ′ from the end of color imaging of the left eye in step 513, switching from the left eye to the right eye is performed in step 514, and autofluorescence imaging of the right eye is performed in step 515. After completion of right-eye autofluorescence imaging at step 515, switching from the right eye to the left eye is performed at step 516, and left-eye autofluorescence imaging is performed at step 517.

  That is, in this case, the shooting sequence for shortening the shooting time is (No.1, color shooting, right eye) → (No.2, color shooting, left eye) → (No.3, FAF shooting, right eye) → (No.4, FAF photography, left eye) can be considered. Specifically, after shooting with (No.1, color shooting, right eye), shooting with a small effect of miosis (No.2, color shooting, left eye). The miosis in the right eye of the first shot (No.1, color shot, right eye) recovered while shooting (No.2, color shot, left eye), so (No.3 , FAF shooting, right eye), taking a photo at the timing of mydriatic condition. Similarly, the miosis in the left eye of the previous image (No.2, color image, left eye) is recovered while the (No.3, FAF image, right eye) is being imaged. No.4, FAF, left eye))

  As described above, the imaging sequence in FIG. 5B is switched from the left eye to the right eye in step 514 and from the right eye to the left eye in step 516, as compared with the imaging sequence in FIG. Two steps of switching are added. Further, the order of the left eye color photographing in step 513 and the right eye autofluorescence photographing in step 515 are reversed. However, on the other hand, it can be seen that the shooting sequence of FIG. 5B can shorten the time from the start to the end of shooting compared to the shooting sequence of FIG.

The reason why the photographing sequence time can be shortened will be described again in detail.
The time until the pupil of the subject after the imaging is dilated is based on the fact that the non-photographed eye has a shorter time for the pupil to dilate compared to the photographed eye. In FIG. 5, the eye pupils not photographed after the color imaging shown in FIG. 5B are compared with the time Ta until the pupil of the eye photographed after the color imaging shown in FIG. This means that the time Ta 'until the mydriasis is shorter. That is, instead of waiting for the time Ta until the right-eye pupil is dilated in Step 511 shown in the imaging sequence of FIG. 5B, the pupil of the left eye After the time Ta ′ until the time of mydriasis has elapsed, color imaging of the left eye is performed in step 513, so that the time Ta minus the time Ta ′ can be shortened (time Ta−time Ta ′). Similarly, after the time Ta ′ until the pupil of the right eye forms mydriasis after performing color imaging of the left eye in step 513, autofluorescence imaging of the right eye of the right eye is performed in step 515. Thus, it is possible to shorten the time by subtracting the time Ta ′ from the time Ta (time Ta−time Ta ′).

  Then, using the time Ta ′ until the pupil of the eye that has not been photographed dilated after color photographing, switching from the right eye to the left eye in step 512 and from the left eye in step 514 Switching to the right eye.

  As described above, since the time until the next shooting is performed after the color shooting of both eyes can be shortened, the shooting sequence of FIG. 5B is more from the start of shooting than the shooting sequence of FIG. The time to completion can be shortened. Here, in the imaging sequence described with reference to FIG. 5, the right eye is preferentially imaged, but it goes without saying that the same applies to the case of imaging from the left eye.

  Further, in the imaging sequence in FIG. 5B, the switching from the left eye to the right eye in step 514 and the switching from the right eye to the left eye in step 516 are performed with respect to the imaging sequence in FIG. Since these two steps are added, the operation may be complicated. However, since the present embodiment is an ophthalmologic apparatus that automatically performs alignment and focusing on the photographing eye and can automatically perform operations up to the photographing, as described above, the operator performs photographing. Since the left and right eyes are not switched, and positioning and focusing operations are not performed, the troublesome operation is eliminated.

  As described above, the ophthalmic imaging apparatus can reduce the load on the subject by shortening the imaging time without causing the operator to perform complicated operations.

  In this embodiment, the two shooting modes of color shooting and spontaneous fluorescence shooting have been described. However, even when shooting three times per eye such as a combination of red-free shooting with this, shooting was not performed after shooting. The time from the start to the end of shooting can be shortened by the shooting sequence for shooting the eyes.

  As described above, when imaging is performed without instilling a mydriatic, for example, color imaging of the right eye is performed in step 501, and then the pupil of the subject contracts. However, here, considering the case where the mydriatic is instilled, the time taken from the start to the end of the photographing can be shortened in the photographing sequence in FIG. 5A than in the photographing sequence in FIG. 5B. It is.

  This is because the pupil of the subject does not have a miosis after color imaging of the right eye in step 501. For this reason, for example, the time Ta from when the right eye is color-captured in step 501 until the pupil dilates is not required. Accordingly, right-eye autofluorescence imaging is immediately possible in step 502. Similarly, color imaging of the left eye is performed in step 504, and spontaneous fluorescence imaging of the left eye can be immediately performed in step 505.

  That is, in the case of imaging when the mydriatic is instilled, the time Ta and the time Tb until the pupil is dilated is not necessary, so the time from the start to the end of the imaging in the imaging sequence of FIG. Shortened. Therefore, when the imaging sequence of FIG. 5B is performed, the time required for the two steps of switching from the left eye to the right eye in step 514 and switching from the right eye to the left eye in step 516. Therefore, it is slower than the shooting sequence of FIG.

Next, a method for solving the problem when the above-mentioned mydriatic is instilled will be described.
It is input in advance to the operation input unit 21 whether or not the mydriatic has been instilled. For example, a method of configuring a mydriatic check switch or the like in the operation input unit 21. First, when the mydriatic is not instilled, the imaging sequence shown in FIG. 5B is executed by pressing the imaging start switch with the mydriatic check switch OFF (not ON). . On the other hand, when the mydriatic is instilled, the imaging sequence shown in FIG. 5A is executed by pressing the imaging start switch with the mydriatic check switch ON. With such a configuration, an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus capable of selecting the photographing sequence in FIG. 5A and the photographing sequence in FIG. 5B can be obtained.

  According to the method described above, it is possible to execute an imaging sequence in which the time from the start to the end of imaging according to the instillation state of the mydriatic is shortest, so that the effect of reducing the load on the subject is further increased.

  As described above, the imaging sequence when imaging the left and right eyes multiple times by operating the focusing unit and the alignment unit is stored in advance in the imaging sequence storage unit disposed in the system control unit 18, for example. Preferably it is. Further, it is preferable that a plurality of these photographing sequences are stored in the case shown in FIG. 5A and the case shown in FIG. Further, it is preferable that the above-described mydriatic check switch for confirming the presence or absence of mydriatic eye drops function as an imaging sequence input means for selecting and executing an imaging sequence. Note that the aspect of the imaging sequence input means is not limited to the check switch, and may be actually constructed by a selection switch and an execution switch, and the aspect is not limited to the embodiment.

In the first embodiment, it has been described that the shooting sequence time can be shortened by taking two shooting modes of color shooting and spontaneous fluorescence shooting as examples.
In the second embodiment, a case where stereo imaging of both eyes of the eye to be examined is performed will be described.

  FIG. 6 shows an imaging sequence when performing stereo imaging of both eyes on the same eye to be examined.

  Stereo photography by an ophthalmologic photographing device is known as a simultaneous stereoscopic photography method that obtains left and right stereoscopic images simultaneously in one photography, and a photography method that obtains a right and left stereoscopic image by shifting the normal photography to the left and right twice. However, in this embodiment, a case will be described in which a normal photographing is shifted left and right and a method of photographing twice is used. In this embodiment, the two shootings shifted to the left and right will be described as right shooting and left shooting. Furthermore, in order to reduce the load on the subject, a case will be described in which imaging is performed without instilling mydriatic in both the left and right eyes.

  Conventionally, as shown in the imaging sequence of FIG. 6A, the right eye is photographed in step 701, the left eye is photographed in step 702, and then moved to the left eye in step 703. In step 704, the left eye is photographed on the right side, and in step 705, the left eye is photographed on the left side. In the shooting sequence described above, the right eye is preferentially shot, but it goes without saying that the left eye may be shot.

  Thus, conventionally, after two stereo shootings for one eye (right eye in FIG. 6A) are completed, two stereo shootings for the other eye (left eye in FIG. 6A) are performed. It is carried out. However, if photographing is performed without instilling the mydriatic agent, the right pupil of the right eye is photographed in step 701, and the pupil of the subject is miotic. That is, it is necessary to wait until the subject's pupil is dilated for the time Ta from the end of right-side imaging of the right eye in step 701 to the start of left-side imaging of the right eye in step 702. Similarly, it is necessary to wait until the subject's pupil becomes mydriatic during the time Ta until the left-eye imaging start of the left eye in Step 705 after the right-eye imaging of the left eye in Step 704 There is.

  On the other hand, as shown in the imaging sequence of FIG. 6B, imaging of the left and right eyes alternately is a characteristic operation in this embodiment. First, in step 711, the right eye is photographed on the right side, the right eye is switched to the left eye in step 712, and after the time Ta ′ elapses after the right eye is photographed on the right side in step 711, step 713 is performed. Take the right eye of the left eye. Next, after the time Ta ′ has elapsed from the end of the right-side imaging of the left eye in step 713, the left eye is switched to the right eye in step 714, and the left-side imaging of the right eye is performed in step 715. Finally, after the left-eye imaging of the right eye is completed in step 715, the switching from the right eye to the left eye is performed in step 716, and the left-eye imaging of the left eye is performed in step 717.

  6B is compared with the imaging sequence of FIG. 6A, the switching from the left eye to the right eye in step 714 and the right eye to the left eye in step 716 are performed. Two steps of switching are added. Furthermore, the order of the right-eye shooting of the left eye in step 713 and the left-eye shooting of the right eye in step 715 are reversed. However, on the other hand, it can be seen that the shooting sequence of FIG. 6B can shorten the time from the start to the end of shooting compared to the shooting sequence of FIG.

  The reason why the time of the photographing sequence can be shortened is the same as that in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. However, the time that can be shortened is as follows.

  First, in step 711 shown in the imaging sequence of FIG. 6B, the right eye is photographed on the right side, and the left eye pupil does not wait for the time Ta until the right eye pupil dilates. After the time Ta ′ until the time of mydriasis elapses, the right eye of the left eye is photographed in step 713, so that the time Ta minus the time Ta ′ can be shortened (time Ta−time Ta ′). Similarly, after taking the right eye of the left eye in step 713 and after the time Ta ′ until the pupil of the right eye becomes mydriatic, the left eye of the right eye is taken in step 715. It can be shortened by the time obtained by subtracting the time Ta ′ from Ta (time Ta−time Ta ′).

  Then, after each imaging, using the time Ta ′ until the pupil of the eye that has not been imaged is dilated, switching from the right eye to the left eye in step 712, and from the left eye to the right in step 714 Switching to the eye.

  As described above, the shooting sequence of FIG. 6B can shorten the time from the start to the end of shooting compared to the shooting sequence of FIG. Here, in the imaging sequence described with reference to FIG. 6, the right eye is preferentially imaged, but it goes without saying that the same applies to the case of imaging from the left eye. In addition, as exemplified in the examples, the imaging sequence includes color imaging of the eye to be examined, autofluorescence imaging for imaging autofluorescence of the fundus, red-free imaging useful for imaging nerve fibers, and for each eye to be examined. Stereo shooting that performs left and right shooting from the left and right shooting from the right to obtain left and right stereoscopic images is exemplified.

  It goes without saying that the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained by applying the method for solving the problem when the mydriatic is applied as described in the first embodiment.

(Other examples)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

E Eye 18 System control unit

Claims (10)

  An imaging optical system for observing and imaging the eye to be examined, a focusing means for obtaining a focus state of the imaging optical system with respect to the eye to be examined, an alignment means for aligning the eye to be examined and the imaging optical system, and the subject Left and right eye detection means for discriminating the right and left of the optometry, an imaging sequence storage means for storing an imaging sequence when the left and right eyes are imaged a plurality of times by operating the focusing means and the alignment means, and the imaging An ophthalmic imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging sequence input unit that selects and executes a sequence.   2. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing sequence input means is means for inputting presence / absence of mydriatic eye drops.   The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing sequence storage unit stores a plurality of photographing sequences.   The ophthalmic imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the imaging sequence includes color imaging of the eye to be examined.   The ophthalmic imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the imaging sequence includes autofluorescence imaging of the eye to be examined.   The ophthalmic imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the imaging sequence includes red-free imaging of the eye to be examined. The shooting sequence storage means stores a plurality of shooting sequences,
3. The ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the photographing sequence includes stereo photographing for obtaining right and left stereoscopic images by photographing the eye to be examined twice from the left direction and the right direction. Determining whether the object to be observed and imaged is left or right of the eye to be examined;
Obtaining an in-focus state of the imaging optical system for the eye to be examined;
Aligning the eye to be examined and the imaging optical system;
And a step of observing or imaging the eye to be inspected by the imaging optical system, and a control method for an ophthalmologic imaging apparatus that executes an imaging sequence in which the left and right eye are imaged a plurality of times.
A method for controlling an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus, comprising: performing a plurality of photographings according to a photographing sequence selected by input via a photographing sequence input unit from a plurality of photographing sequences stored in advance.   9. The method of controlling an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the photographing sequence input means is means for inputting presence / absence of mydriatic eye drops.   A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the method for controlling an ophthalmologic photographing apparatus according to claim 8 or 9.

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