Methods and apparatus for detecting a presence and severity of a cataract in ambient lighting

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for making a determination about a cataract in an eye in ambient lighting conditions.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of making a determination about an eye comprising:
 capturing, using an image capture device, one or more images of the eye of a subject, wherein each said image is captured using only ambient lighting conditions and wherein non-relevant reflections from the eye of the subject are managed while capturing the one or more images;   determining, using a computing device in communication with the image capture device, one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject; and   making a determination about a presence and/or severity of a cataract, optical distortion or opacity of the eye based on the one or more lens opacity qualities.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining, using the computing device in communication with the image capture device, one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject comprises:
 determining an overall intensity of light from a plurality of pixels located within the portion of the pupil of the eye of the subject captured in the image;   determining, using the computing device, a first intensity of a first color from the plurality of pixels located within the portion of the pupil of the eye of the subject captured in the image;   determining, using the computing device, a second intensity of a second color from the plurality of pixels located within the portion of the pupil of the eye of the subject captured in the image;   comparing, by the computing device, a relative intensity of the first color and a relative intensity of the second color; and   making the determination about the one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject based upon the reflected ambient light, wherein said comparison and said overall intensity are used to make the determination about the one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject based upon the reflected ambient light.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining, using the computing device, a color temperature of the ambient lighting, wherein one or more of the overall intensity of light, the first intensity of the first color or the second intensity of the second color is adjusted by the computing device based on the determined color temperature of the ambient lighting. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein making the determination about the one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject about the eye of the subject comprises making a determination based at least in part on a brightness and one or more colors of the reflected ambient light. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the brightness is adjusted by the computing device based on the determined color temperature of the ambient lighting. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining, using the computing device in communication with the image capture device, the one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject comprises determining ocular opacification (OO) and brunescence (nuclear color (NC)). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein OO and NC are graded according to clinical severity and effect of the cataract on visual acuity. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein OO and NC are used to determine the presence and/or severity of a nuclear cataract. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining, using the computing device in communication with the image capture device, the one or more ocular opacities qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject comprises comparing an estimated aggregate of cortical spoking in a plurality of images. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of images comprises five images of the eye of the subject. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the cortical spoking is used to determine the presence and/or severity of a cortical cataract. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining, using the computing device in communication with the image capture device, the one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject comprises determining increasing amounts of a posterior subcapsular cataract in a plurality of images. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the increasing amounts of the posterior subcapsular cataract in the plurality of images is used to determine the presence and/or severity of a subcapsular (P) cataract. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image capture device and the computing device comprise a smartphone. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for making a determination about an eye comprised of:
 an image capture device;   a memory; and   a processor in communication with the memory and the image capture device, wherein the processor executes computer-readable instructions stored in the memory that cause the processor to;   capture, using the image capture device, one or more images of the eye of a subject, wherein each said image is captured using only ambient lighting conditions and wherein non-relevant reflections from the eye of the subject are managed while capturing the one or more images;   determine, using the computing device in communication with the image capture device, one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject; and   make a determination about a presence and/or severity of a cataract, optical distortion or opacity of the eye based on the one or more lens opacity qualities.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein determining, using the computing device in communication with the image capture device, one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject comprises:
 determining an overall intensity of light from a plurality of pixels located within the portion of the pupil of the eye of the subject captured in the image;   determining, using the computing device, a first intensity of a first color from the plurality of pixels located within the portion of the pupil of the eye of the subject captured in the image;   determining, using the computing device, a second intensity of a second color from the plurality of pixels located within the portion of the pupil of the eye of the subject captured in the image;   comparing, by the computing device, a relative intensity of the first color and a relative intensity of the second color; and   making the determination about the one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject based upon the reflected ambient light, wherein said comparison and said overall intensity are used to make the determination about the one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject based upon the reflected ambient light.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising determining, using the computing device, a color temperature of the ambient lighting, wherein one or more of the overall intensity of light, the first intensity of the first color or the second intensity of the second color is adjusted by the computing device based on the determined color temperature of the ambient lighting. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein making the determination about the one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject about the eye of the subject comprises making a determination based at least in part on a brightness and one or more colors of the reflected ambient light. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the brightness is adjusted by the computing device based on the determined color temperature of the ambient lighting. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein determining, using the computing device in communication with the image capture device, the one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject comprises determining ocular opacification (OO) and brunescence (nuclear color (NC)). 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein OO and NC are graded according to clinical severity and effect of the cataract on visual acuity. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein OO and NC are used to determine the presence and/or severity of a nuclear cataract. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein determining, using the computing device in communication with the image capture device, the one or more lens ocular opacities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject comprises comparing an estimated aggregate of cortical spoking in a plurality of images. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of images comprises five images of the eye of the subject. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the cortical spoking is used to determine the presence and/or severity of a cortical cataract. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein determining, using the computing device in communication with the image capture device, the one or more lens opacity qualities in each of the one or more images of the eye of the subject comprises determining increasing amounts of a posterior subcapsular cataract in a plurality of images. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the increasing amounts of the posterior subcapsular cataract in the plurality of images is used to determine the presence and/or severity of a subcapsular (P) cataract. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the image capture device and the computing device comprise a smartphone.