Epithelial removal tool with light emitter and method for an ophthalmic surgical procedure

A method for an ophthalmic surgical procedure to remove tissue from an epithelial lawyer of an eye for correcting a patient's vision, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an epithelial removal tool having a removal member and a light guide, wherein the light guide has a first end and a second end, and extends through the removal member to a lower end of the removal member for passing light from the first end to the second end disposed on the lower end of the removal member;
• mounting the epithelial removal tool to a motor unit which provides rotary motion to the lower end of the removal member to remove the tissue from the epithelial layer of the eye;
• preparing the patient for the procedure;
• exposing the first end of the light guide to a light source, which causes light from the light source to emanate from the second end of the light guide and the lower end of the removal member, defining a fixation point disposed on the lower end of the removal member;
• instructing the patient to focus on the fixation point disposed on the lower end of the removal member of the epithelial removal tool;
• applying the removal member to the patient's eye while the motor unit rotates the epithelial removal tool to rotate the lower end of the removal member and removes the tissue from the epithelial layer of the patient's eye;
• and
• monitoring the patient's stationary eye position and continued focus on the fixation point located disposed on the lower end of the removal tool while removing the tissue from the epithelial layer with the lower end of the removal member.