Remote optical systems for ophthalmic examination and vision research

Ophthalmic examination and visual function tests often require apparatus brought close to the patient's face. Such apparatus often distracts or frightens infants and children, creating instrument artifact. In adults, misalignment with the apparatus can also interfere with successful examination or measurement. These problems can be minimized or eliminated by using an optical system to form an aerial image of the patient in free space. The examination or test is then performed on the aerial image of the patient's eyes, avoiding instrumentation near the patient's face. Several newly developed remote optical systems are described for clinical and research application.