SBIR Phase I: Single shot coded Photo-Refraction to Measure High-Order Aberrations as a Low-Cost Add-On for Smart Phones

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目是屡获殊荣的自检诊断技术成功不可或缺的一部分，该技术可测量屈光不正并检测人眼的高阶像差。 全球共有 42 亿人需要矫正眼镜；其中，25 亿人无法获得适当的护理。 该项目将支持移动平台上的编码光折射系统设备的研发。其目标是实现近视、远视、散光的客观自我诊断，并选择高阶像差，而成本仅为当今主流技术的一小部分，并且具有不折不扣的精度和极大的易用性。所提出的解决方案从患者视网膜后面捕获图像，并利用图像处理技术来计算结果。原始图案是从光源投射出来的，并且会根据每个患者的个人视力需求而出现变形。传感器捕获这种变形并将矩阵转换为屈光不正测量和更高阶的诊断。当这种便携式硬件附加组件与智能手机应用程序配对时，预期的结果是任何人随时随地都可以访问且负担得起的个性化视力护理。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是最终增强患者的能力并提高眼睛健康意识。这项创新不仅作为个性化视力保健的综合平台，而且还提供了一个端到端解决方案，可按需访问医疗保健提供商和履行渠道。视力丧失会带来严重的社会耻辱并阻碍平等机会。此外，人们越来越多地认为高阶像差会对眼睛的视觉性能（除了屈光不正之外）产生负面影响。 2010 年全球因视力丧失造成的损失接近 3 万亿美元。然而，这个问题的根源并不在于硬件供应链，因为眼镜制造商目前的平均生产成本为 3 美元/片。相反，当今的诊断工具（无论光学多么先进）都极其昂贵且笨重，需要临床培训才能操作，并且无法利用现代移动计算的力量。该项目将有助于实现一个患者可以策划自己的眼部护理体验的世界（即测量屈光不正、诊断高阶像差、回顾过去的测试历史、联系眼科医生以及购买眼镜）。 尤其是，该项目将成为加速公司整体商业化进程、优化市场定位的关键一步。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is integral to the success of an award-­winning self-­test diagnostic technology that measures refractive errors and detects higher-order aberrations of the human eye. A total of 4.2 billion people worldwide require corrective eyewear; of these, 2.5 billion lack access to proper care. This project will support the research and development of a coded photorefraction system device on a mobile platform. The goal is to achieve objective self-­diagnosis of myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and select higher-­order aberrations at a fraction of the cost of today's dominant technologies with uncompromised precision and great ease-of-use. The proposed solution captures an image from behind the patient's retina and leverages image-processing techniques to compute the results. The original pattern is projected from a light source and will appear deformed with respect to each patient's individual vision needs. A sensor captures this deformity and translates the matrix into a refractive error measurement and higher-order diagnosis. When this portable hardware add-on is paired with a smartphone application, the anticipated result is personalized vision care that is accessible and affordable to anyone from anywhere at any time.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to ultimately empower patients and raise eye health awareness. This innovation not only serves as a comprehensive platform for personalized vision care, but also delivers an end-to-end solution with on-demand access to healthcare providers and fulfillment channels. Vision loss carries significant societal stigma and inhibits equal opportunity. Furthermore, higher-­order aberrations are increasingly believed to negatively impact the eye's visual performance (in addition to refractive errors). The global cost of vision loss in 2010 was nearly $3 trillion. However, the origin of this problem does not lie in the hardware supply chain, as eyeglass manufacturers are currently achieving average production costs of $3/unit. Instead, today's diagnostic tools (no matter how optically advanced) are absurdly expensive and cumbersome, require clinical training to operate, and fail to leverage the power of modern-day mobile computing. This project will help to realize a world where patients can curate their own eye care experience (i.e. measure refractive error, diagnose higher-order aberrations, review past test history, connect to eye doctors, and purchase eyewear). In particular, this project will serve as a pivotal step towards accelerating the company's overall commercial endeavor and optimizing market positioning.