Device and method for reshaping the cornea
First Claim
1. A method of correcting the refractive error in the cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of aiming a short pulse laser at a predetermine depth in the cornea, below the exterior surface of the cornea, firing the short pulse laser, such that the short pulse laser ablates at least two three dimensional portions below the exterior surface of the cornea, heating the cornea, and reshaping the cornea, so that the cornea substantially conforms to a predetermined shape.
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Abstract
A system and method for correcting the refractive error in the cornea of an eye. A short pulse laser is aimed at a predetermine depth in the cornea, below the exterior surface of the cornea. The short pulse laser is then fired, such that the short pulse laser ablates at least two three dimensional portions below the exterior surface of the cornea, thereby softening the cornea. The cornea is heated and reshaped, so that the cornea substantially conforms to a predetermined shape.
103 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of correcting the refractive error in the cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of
aiming a short pulse laser at a predetermine depth in the cornea, below the exterior surface of the cornea, firing the short pulse laser, such that the short pulse laser ablates at least two three dimensional portions below the exterior surface of the cornea, heating the cornea, and reshaping the cornea, so that the cornea substantially conforms to a predetermined shape.
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12. A method of correcting the refractive error in the cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of
exposing the stroma of the cornea to an energy, forming at least one hundred cavities in a portion of the stroma, each cavity having a diameter greater than 50 microns, positioning a reshaping device having a predetermined first surface adjacent a surface of the cornea, so that it overlies substantially all of said at least one hundred cavities, and reshaping the cornea, so that the cornea substantially conforms to the predetermined first surface of the reshaping device.
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22. A system for correcting refractive error in the eye, comprising:
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a short pulse laser adapted to form at least two cavities each having a diameter less than about one millimeter in a portion of the cornea below the exterior surface of the cornea; and
a reshaping device having a surface with a predetermined curvature, said surface adapted to be positioned adjacent the external surface of the cornea, overlying the portion having at least two cavities formed therein, said reshaping device further adapted to reshape the cornea so that the cornea substantially conforms to the predetermined first surface of the reshaping device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification