Patent ID: 8333474
Filing Date: 2012-12-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An ophthalmic apparatus, comprising: an optical instrument having a first set of optics configured to receive light from the eye of a patient along a first optical axis defined by the first set of optics; and a system for positioning the optical instrument with respect to a desired position relative to the eye in an x-y-z three-dimensional coordinate system, the desired position comprising x, y, and z coordinates, the positioning system comprising a photodetector and being calibrated to define a reference location on the photodetector, the reference location on the photodetector being determined based at least in part on the corneal curvature of the eye and on the desired position relative to the eye, the apparatus being configured such that a spatial relationship between at least one optical indicia and the reference location on the photodetector varies as the apparatus is moved relative to the eye to provide x-y-z three-dimensional positioning information for positioning the instrument with respect to the desired position, the optical indicia comprising light reflected from the eye to the photodetector along a second optical axis, different from the first.