Claims
- 1. Apparatus for viewing a punctum plug illuminated by a source of light in a person's eye, comprising:
a lens for magnifying the image of the punctum plug; at least one light redirecting element for presenting the magnified image of the plug to an eye of an observer; and one or more optical element for blocking the light from the source of light from reaching the observer's eye.
- 2. A system for determining whether or not a punctum plug is positioned within the punctal canal of a person's eye, the system comprising:
the punctum plug of claim 1; and at least one optical element permitting the eye to view itself, to be viewed by the other eye, or by a second person.
- 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical element includes a source of light at one or more illumination wavelengths causing the plug to reflect or re-radiate light.
- 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the light which is reflected or re-radiated by the plug occurs at one or more wavelengths which are different from the illumination wavelength or wavelengths.
- 5. The system of claim 4, further including a filter to block or separate the reflected or re-radiated wavelength(s) from the illumination wavelength(s).
- 6. The system of claim 4, further including a detector to detect the reflected or re-radiated wavelength(s).
- 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical element includes a magnifier.
- 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical element includes a beam splitter or mirror permitting the eye to view itself or to be viewed by the other eye, or by a second person.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 1, including a plurality of light redirecting elements enabling the person to view the eye containing the plug by the person's other eye.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light redirecting element enables a person other than the person wearing the plug to view the plug.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light redirecting element enables the person wearing the plug to view the plug with the person's other eye.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the light redirecting element is switchable between a first position, such that a person other than the person wearing the plug is able to view the plug; and a first position, such that the person wearing the plug is able to view the plug with the person's other eye.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the plug radiates light at a wavelength other than the one used for illumination; and the optical element for blocking the light from the source includes a wavelength-selective filter.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/852,519, filed May 10, 2001, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09852519 |
May 2001 |
US |
Child |
10754670 |
Jan 2004 |
US |