Eye Vision Testing System and Eyewear Using Micromachines

Nabeel Riza,Mehdi Riza,M Amin

doi:10.3390/mi6111449

Abstract

Proposed is a novel eye vision testing system based on micromachines that uses micro-optic, micromechanic, and microelectronic technologies. The micromachines include a programmable micro-optic lens and aperture control devices, pico-projectors, Radio Frequency (RF), optical wireless communication and control links, and energy harvesting and storage devices with remote wireless energy transfer capabilities. The portable lightweight system can measure eye refractive powers, optimize light conditions for the eye under testing, conduct color-blindness tests, and implement eye strain relief and eye muscle exercises via time sequenced imaging. A basic eye vision test system is built in the laboratory for near-sighted (myopic) vision spherical lens refractive error correction. Refractive error corrections from zero up to −5.0 Diopters and −2.0 Diopters are experimentally demonstrated using the Electronic-Lens (E-Lens) and aperture control methods, respectively. The proposed portable eye vision test system is suited for children’s eye tests and developing world eye centers where technical expertise may be limited. Design of a novel low-cost human vision corrective eyewear is also presented based on the proposed aperture control concept. Given its simplistic and economical design, significant impact can be created for humans with vision problems in the under-developed world.

Highlights

A first focus of this paper is on efficient ophthalmic tests where eye examinations of young patients with vision limitations are carried out in order to ensure that prescriptions for the eyeglasses or contact lenses of the corrective lenses may be quickly issued to them [1,2,3]
Inaccessibility of widespread eye care facilities in developing countries due to the high costs linked with the necessary technical expertise requirements to operate bulky and costly modern eye test equipment leads to a further urgency to develop a portable and automated eye vision test system
A second focus of the present paper is to propose and demonstrate the working principles of a new kind of ultra-low cost eye vision test system and its related large scale economically-produced eyewear that can be designed, fabricated, and provided at low cost to people from the disadvantaged world like parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East

Summary

Introduction

A first focus of this paper is on efficient ophthalmic tests where eye examinations of young patients with vision limitations are carried out in order to ensure that prescriptions for the eyeglasses or contact lenses of the corrective lenses may be quickly issued to them [1,2,3]. Inaccessibility of widespread eye care facilities in developing countries due to the high costs linked with the necessary technical expertise requirements to operate bulky and costly modern eye test equipment leads to a further urgency to develop a portable and automated eye vision test system For these reasons, a lightweight and electrically programmable basic eye vision evaluation system is proposed for replacing the classic mechanics-based phoropter so as to enable a more cost effective, time-efficient, easier to operate, and “child friendly” early vision testing experience [4,5]. Basic experiments demonstrating the principles of the proposed ideas are presented and the paper ends with a final conclusion

History of Electronic Lenses in Human Vision Care

Conclusions