Laser refractive surgical procedure method and apparatus
OwnerPeter Austin, George A. Kocar +2inventors
InventorsPeter Austin, George A. Kocar, Alex C. Sacharoff, Jeffrey T. Shimmel
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Abstract
A method for the removal of the epithelial layer and underlying Basement Membrane while leave a smooth and undisturbed Bowman's Membrane in preparation for a laser refractive surgical procedure. The method of the present invention uses a microkeratome having a blade that is capable of cutting through the epithelial layer and Basement Membrane, but not capable of cutting through Bowman's Membrane.
Claims12
A method of performing a laser refractive surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:
- a) contacting a cornea with a blade;
- b) advancing the blade across the cornea so that the blade penetrates an epithelium and a Basement Membrane of the cornea so as to expose but not penetrate a Bowman's Membrane of the cornea;
- and
- c) irradiating the Bowman's Membrane and underlying stromal tissue with ablative laser radiation to effect a refractive change in the cornea.
A method of performing a laser refractive surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:
- a) contacting a cornea with a blade, the blade oscillated at an oscillation frequency of approximately between 5,000 revolutions/minute and 20,000 revolutions/minute;
- b) advancing the blade across the cornea at a speed of approximately between 1.0 millimeter/second and 2.0 millimeters/second so that the blade penetrates an epithelium and a Basement Membrane of the cornea so as to expose but not penetrate a Bowman's Membrane of the cornea;
- and
- c) irradiating the Bowman's Membrane and underlying stromal tissue with ablative laser radiation to effect a refractive change in the cornea.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.