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CN-118890999-B - Method and apparatus for treating/preventing ametropia and for image processing and display

CN118890999BCN 118890999 BCN118890999 BCN 118890999BCN-118890999-B

Abstract

Methods and apparatus useful in the fields of image processing and display are disclosed. Methods and apparatus useful in the ophthalmic arts, and in some particular embodiments, in the non-invasive treatment and/or prevention of ametropia, are also disclosed.

Inventors

  • OREN YHEZKER
  • D. Oz
  • RAN YAM

Assignees

  • 诺瓦赛特有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20221227
Priority Date
20220713

Claims (20)

  1. 1. An apparatus capable of being used for the treatment of existing refractive errors and/or the prevention of progression of refractive errors in a human subject, comprising: A computer processor functionally associated with a display screen and an eye tracker configured to determine a gaze direction of a first eye of a subject looking at an image on the display screen and to provide the determined gaze direction to the computer processor, the computer processor comprising a computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the computer processor to perform the steps of: generating a display image from the received digital base image for display to the first eye on the display screen based on the determined gaze direction of the first eye, wherein: i. A central visual portion of the display image corresponding to a portion of a field of view of the first eye, the portion of the field of view of the first eye including the determined gaze direction, wherein the central visual portion: Unmodified compared to the corresponding portion in the base image, or Is modified such that a visual characteristic of the central visual portion of the display image is changed as compared to a corresponding visual characteristic of a corresponding portion of the base image, the modification improving an image quality of the central visual portion relative to the corresponding portion of the base image, and A non-central visual portion of the display image different from the central visual portion, the non-central visual portion being modified as compared to a corresponding portion in the base image such that visual characteristics of the non-central visual portion of the display image are changed as compared to corresponding visual characteristics of a corresponding portion in the base image, the modification reducing image quality of the non-central visual portion relative to a corresponding portion in the base image, wherein the modification reducing image quality of the non-central visual portion relative to a corresponding portion in the base image includes at least a reduction in contrast; wherein as a result of said generating, an image quality of said non-central visual portion of said display image is lower than an image quality of said central visual portion of said display image, and Displaying the generated display image on the display screen such that the first eye of the subject views the display image on the display screen; wherein the instructions to generate the display image include instructions to: Generating a mask image independent of the base image, the mask image including a non-degenerate central optic portion and a degenerate non-central optic portion, and Subsequently displaying the mask image on the display screen together with the base image so as to simultaneously generate and display the display image; And wherein the display of the generated mask image with the base image changes an appearance of the non-central visual portion of the base image on the display screen such that a portion of the base image corresponding to the non-central visual portion appears to be degenerate to a subject.
  2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to display the generated display image on a display screen such that a second eye of the subject views the display image on the display screen.
  3. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the display image is displayed at the same location of the display screen for simultaneous viewing by both eyes.
  4. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: The eye tracker determining a gaze direction of a second eye of the subject looking at a second eye display screen and providing the determined gaze direction to the computer processor; The instructions, when executed, cause the computer processor to further perform the steps of: Generating a second display image from the received digital base image for display to the second eye on the second eye display screen based on the determined gaze direction of the second eye, wherein: i. A central visual portion of the second display image corresponding to a portion of a field of view of the second eye, the portion of the field of view of the second eye including the determined gaze direction, the central visual portion: Unmodified compared to the corresponding portion in the base image, or Is modified such that a visual characteristic of the central visual portion of the second display image is changed as compared to a corresponding visual characteristic of a corresponding portion of the base image, the modification improving an image quality of the central visual portion relative to the corresponding portion of the base image, and A non-central visual portion of the second display image that is different from the central visual portion, the non-central visual portion being modified as compared to a corresponding portion in the base image such that visual characteristics of the non-central visual portion of the second display image are changed as compared to corresponding visual characteristics of a corresponding portion in the base image, the modification reducing image quality of the non-central visual portion relative to a corresponding portion in the base image, wherein the modification reducing image quality of the non-central visual portion relative to a corresponding portion in the base image includes at least a reduction in contrast; wherein as a result of said generating, the image quality of said non-central visual portion of said second display image is lower than the image quality of said central visual portion of said second display image, and Displaying the generated second display image on the second eye display screen such that a second eye of the subject views the second display image on the second eye display screen.
  5. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for the central visual portion of the display image to have a size corresponding to a field of view of at least 1 ° and no more than 20 ° of the first eye, the field of view comprising the determined gaze direction of the first eye.
  6. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that the central visual portion of the display image is unmodified compared to a corresponding portion in the base image.
  7. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to modify the central visual portion of the display image such that visual characteristics of the central visual portion of the display image are changed as compared to corresponding visual characteristics of corresponding portions in the base image, the modification improving image quality of the central visual portion relative to corresponding portions in the base image.
  8. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for the non-central visual portion of the display image to completely enclose the central visual portion.
  9. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that a radial dimension of the non-central visual portion of the display image corresponds to a field of view of at least 2 ° of the first eye.
  10. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions to generate the display image comprise instructions to generate the display image as an image data structure, and wherein the display of the generated display image then displays the image data structure on the display screen.
  11. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for providing to the computer processor a distance of the display screen from the cornea of the first eye prior to the generating the display image, and the instructions for generating the display image are further based on the provided distance of the display screen from the cornea of the first eye.
  12. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display of the generated mask image with the base image does not affect an appearance of the central visual portion of the base image on the display screen such that a portion of the base image corresponding to the central visual portion appears unmodified to a subject.
  13. 13. An apparatus for image processing and display, comprising: A computer processor functionally associated with a display screen and an eye tracker configured for determining a gaze direction of a first eye of a person viewing an image on the display screen, and for providing the determined gaze direction to the computer processor, the computer processor configured to: Generating a display image from the received digital base image based on the gaze direction of the first eye received from the eye tracker, wherein: i. A central visual portion of the display image corresponding to a portion of a field of view of the first eye, the portion of the field of view of the first eye including the determined gaze direction, wherein the central visual portion: Unmodified compared to the corresponding portion in the base image, or Is modified such that a visual characteristic of the central visual portion of the display image is changed as compared to a corresponding visual characteristic of a corresponding portion of the base image, the modification improving an image quality of the central visual portion relative to the corresponding portion of the base image, and A non-central visual portion of the display image different from the central visual portion, the non-central visual portion being modified as compared to a corresponding portion in the base image such that visual characteristics of the non-central visual portion of the display image are changed as compared to corresponding visual characteristics of a corresponding portion in the base image, the modification reducing image quality of the non-central visual portion relative to a corresponding portion in the base image, wherein the modification reducing image quality of the non-central visual portion of the display image relative to a corresponding portion in the base image includes at least a reduction in contrast; wherein as a result of said generating, an image quality of said non-central visual portion of said display image is lower than an image quality of said central visual portion of said display image, and Displaying the generated display image on the display screen such that a first eye of a person views the display image on the display screen; Wherein the configuration of the computer processor for generating and displaying the generated display image comprises: An arrangement for generating a mask image independent of the base image, the mask image comprising a non-degenerate central vision portion and a degenerate non-central vision portion, and A configuration for displaying the generated mask image on the display screen together with the base image so as to simultaneously generate and display a display image; And wherein, as a result of the display of the generated mask image with a base image, the appearance of the non-central visual portion of the base image on the display screen is changed such that a portion of the base image corresponding to the non-central visual portion appears to be degenerate to a subject.
  14. 14. The device of claim 13, the display screen configured to enable a second eye of the person to view the generated display image on the display screen.
  15. 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the generated display image is displayed at the same location of the display screen for simultaneous viewing by both eyes.
  16. 16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: The eye tracker is configured for determining a gaze direction of a second eye of the person looking at the display screen, and for providing the determined gaze direction to the computer processor; The computer processor is further configured to: Generating a second display image from the received digital base image and based on the gaze direction of the second eye received from the eye tracker, wherein: i. a central visual portion of the second display image corresponding to a portion of a field of view of the second eye, the portion of the field of view of the second eye including the determined gaze direction, wherein the central visual portion: Unmodified compared to the corresponding portion in the base image, or Is modified such that a visual characteristic of the central visual portion of the second display image is changed as compared to a corresponding visual characteristic of a corresponding portion of the base image, the modification improving an image quality of the central visual portion relative to the corresponding portion of the base image, and A non-central visual portion of the second display image that is different from the central visual portion, the non-central visual portion being modified as compared to a corresponding portion in the base image such that visual characteristics of the non-central visual portion of the second display image are changed as compared to corresponding visual characteristics of a corresponding portion in the base image, the modification reducing image quality of the non-central visual portion relative to a corresponding portion in the base image, wherein the modification reducing image quality of the non-central visual portion relative to a corresponding portion in the base image includes at least a reduction in contrast; wherein as a result of said generating, the image quality of said non-central visual portion of said second display image is lower than the image quality of said central visual portion of said second display image, and The generated second display image is displayed on a display screen functionally associated with the computer processor such that a second eye of a person views the second display image on the display screen.
  17. 17. The apparatus of claim 13, the computer processor configured such that a size of a central visual portion of a display image corresponds to a field of view of at least 1 ° and no more than 20 ° of the first eye, the field of view including the determined gaze direction of the first eye.
  18. 18. The apparatus of claim 13, the computer processor configured such that a central visual portion of the display image is unmodified compared to a corresponding portion in the base image.
  19. 19. The device of claim 13, wherein the computer processor is configured to modify a base image such that visual characteristics of a central visual portion of the generated display image are changed as compared to corresponding visual characteristics of corresponding portions in the base image, the modification improving image quality of the central visual portion relative to corresponding portions in the base image.
  20. 20. The apparatus of claim 13, the computer processor configured such that a non-central visual portion of a display image completely surrounds the central visual portion.

Description

Method and apparatus for treating/preventing ametropia and for image processing and display RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application takes priority from U.S. provisional patent application US 63/293,909 filed on day 2021, 12, 27 and U.S. utility patent application US17/863,715 filed on day 2022, 7, 13, both of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Field and background of the invention In some embodiments, the present invention relates to the field of image processing and display, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to methods and apparatus useful for image processing and displaying such images to a human subject. In some embodiments, the present invention relates to the field of ophthalmology, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to methods and apparatus useful for the non-invasive treatment and/or prevention of refractive errors in human subjects. The eyes of term human infants are about 1.8cm long (cornea to the back of the eye). The eye grows throughout childhood, reaching a length of about 2.5cm in adulthood, during which orthographic visualization ideally occurs (emmetropization). The emmetropia is the match between the refractive power of the optics of the eye and the axial length of the eye such that, without accommodation, the distant image is focused at the photoreceptor layer (photoreceptor layer). Orthoscopy is the process of achieving orthoscopy, including reducing refractive errors present at birth. The refractive status of newborns varies from person to person, most newborns' eyes are far-sighted and often become emmetropic over time. Refractive elements (ocular components) of the eye, particularly lens and cornea curvatures, continue to change and eye growth occurs over time to achieve initial emmetropia. Thus, the eye also needs to remain in front view. Undoubtedly, the orthographic part is actively implemented by visual feedback. Little is known about the process underlying the maintenance of a positive view. In some examples, the eye reaches emmetropia, but continues to physically change, eventually developing myopia. Such myopia is typically caused by an increase in the axial length of the eye and/or the curvature of the cornea, such that light from distant objects is focused in front of the retina, resulting in reduced visual acuity. Myopia, also known as myopia (NEARSIGHTEDNESS), is the most common eye disease in the world. The prevalence of myopia is about 30% to 40% in adults in europe and the united states, and as high as 80% or more in asian young. Some myopic children continue to develop their myopia throughout the entire school year (including seniors). Long-term risks associated with myopia progression include cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and retinal detachment. In US11,064,882 of the applicant, an apparatus for screening, monitoring and/or assessing visual impairment is described. In US2022/0057651 a technique is described for driving orthographic visualization of an eye comprising receiving image data corresponding to a color image, blurring a first color channel of the image data more than a second color channel of the image data in at least a portion of the color image to provide a simulated Longitudinal Chromatic Aberration (LCA) in the portion of the color image, and displaying the color image with the simulated LCA to provide orthographic visualization treatment to the eye. Additional background techniques that may be used to understand aspects of the invention include US2019/0377191, US2019/0094552, and US2018/0096461. Summary of The Invention Some embodiments relate to the field of image processing and display, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to methods and apparatus useful for image processing and displaying such images to a human subject. Some embodiments of the invention herein relate to methods and apparatus useful in the ophthalmic arts, and in some particular embodiments, methods and apparatus useful for non-invasive treatment and/or prevention and/or reduction of eye growth rate of ametropia, particularly myopia. Some embodiments taught herein may be used for one or more of preventing progression of refractive errors, stopping progression of existing refractive errors, and reducing severity of existing refractive errors (particularly myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism). In some embodiments, methods and apparatus according to the teachings herein include generating a display image from a base image and displaying the display image to a human subject. The display image includes at least two distinct portions, a central visual portion and a non-central visual portion, wherein the image quality of the non-central visual portion is lower than the image quality of the central visual portion. According to aspects of some embodiments taught herein, there is provided a method useful for the treatment of existing refractive errors and/or prevention of progression of refractive errors in a human subject