Systems and Methods for Monitoring Eye Health

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring eye health. The systems and methods monitor eye health by measuring scleral strain by way of an implantable monitor, a wearable monitor configured in eyeglasses, or an external monitor using a portable tablet computing device. Certain embodiments of the strain monitor may be utilized to measure the strain on any surface to which it is attached, including, but not limited to, the skin of a patient or the surface of a structure such as a building or a bridge.

1 . A system for monitoring eye health, the system comprising: a scleral strain monitor comprising
 a) a wearable device comprising:
 i) one or more image sensors, 
 ii) a CPU, 
 iii) a memory storage device, 
 iv) one or more connecting wires, and 
 v) a power source; 
   wherein the one or more image sensors monitor a scleral stretch corresponding to changes in distance between two or more preselected target regions on or in a sclera of the eye of a user by recording at least two photographic images of the eye of the user, each of the at least two photographic images recorded at different times, and   wherein the CPU receives the at least two photographic images from the one or more image sensors and determines changes in distance between the two or more preselected target regions based on changes in the at least two photographic images, then transmits the at least two photographic images to the memory storage device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wearable device is a pair of eyeglass frames comprising the one or more image sensors, the CPU, the memory storage device, the one or more connecting wires, and the power source. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wearable device further comprises a component for determining an angle of a recline of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the component is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more preselected target regions are two separated symmetric implanted objects, two separated asymmetric implanted objects, two separated symmetric objects, two separated asymmetric objects or two distinct sclera regions. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the separated symmetric objects comprise two dots and the two separated asymmetric objects comprise a dot and an arc, wherein the two separated symmetric objects and the two separated asymmetric objects comprise markers, the markers comprising ink or dye, and the system further comprising a dual marking tool for applying markers to the surface of an eye as two markers that are separated by a fixed distance predetermined with the dual marking tool. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more image sensors comprise 2, 3 or 4 digital optical sensors attached to the eyeglass frames or built into the eyeglass frames. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more image sensors are CMOS imagers. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the image sensors are motorized. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the eyeglass frames further comprises one or more illumination sources capable of controlling the illumination levels of an eye of a wearer. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more illumination sources is capable of emitting light at the near-infrared range. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more illumination sources is capable of being modulated at 800 nm. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more illumination sources is capable of being modulated in time. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the eyeglass frames further comprises prescription lenses or non-prescription lenses. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the eyeglass frames further comprises an RF antenna capable of transmitting the at least two photographic images received by the CPU to a wearable receiver or a Smartphone. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery or an external power source. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising computer software that tracks and categorizes conjunctiva veins versus sclera veins using relative image intensity or distinguishing veins that move relative to other veins as the user moves the eye. 
     
     
         18 - 34 . (canceled)