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Title: Method for quantifying optical properties of the human lens

Patent ·
OSTI ID:350324

A method is disclosed for quantifying optical properties of the human lens. The present invention includes the application of fiberoptic, OMA-based instrumentation as an in vivo diagnostic tool for the human ocular lens. Rapid, noninvasive and comprehensive assessment of the optical characteristics of a lens using very modest levels of exciting light are described. Typically, the backscatter and fluorescence spectra (from about 300- to 900-nm) elicited by each of several exciting wavelengths (from about 300- to 600-nm) are collected within a few seconds. The resulting optical signature of individual lenses is then used to assess the overall optical quality of the lens by comparing the results with a database of similar measurements obtained from a reference set of normal human lenses having various ages. Several metrics have been identified which gauge the optical quality of a given lens relative to the norm for the subject`s chronological age. These metrics may also serve to document accelerated optical aging and/or as early indicators of cataract or other disease processes. 8 figs.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
Assignee:
Univ. of California, Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5,894,340/A/
Application Number:
PAN: 8-744,678
OSTI ID:
350324
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 13 Apr 1999
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English