Equipment and methods for refractive surgery, particularly for keratoplasty

A method of shaping a blank into a lamella intended to be implanted into a corneal stromal pocket, the method comprising:

• affixing the blank to a holder during treatment by a laser device;
• to approximate a dewpoint of surroundings, doing at least one of:
• actively cooling a temperature of air or a gas when an airstream or a flow of the gas is directed over the blank affixed to the holder,
• actively cooling the holder, or
• actively cooling the blank;
• applying laser energy from the laser device to the blank to thereby shape the blank into the lamella;
• and
• removing the lamella from the holder.

A device that facilitates shaping a blank into a lamella intended to be implanted into a corneal stromal pocket, the device comprising:

• a laser;
• a holder configured to support the blank;
• wherein, to approximate a dewpoint of surroundings, the device is configured to do at least one of:
• actively cool a temperature of an airstream or a flow of gas when the airstream or the flow of gas is directed over the holder,
• to actively cool the holder, or
• to actively cool the blank;
• and
• wherein laser energy from the laser is applied to the blank to thereby shape the blank into the lamella.

A holder that supports a blank to facilitate shaping the blank into a lamella intended to be implanted into a corneal stromal pocket, the holder comprising:

• a structure to support the blank;
• wherein, to approximate a dewpoint of surroundings, the holder is configured to do at least one of:
• actively cool a temperature of an airstream or a flow of gas when the airstream or the flow of gas is directed over the holder,
• to actively cool the holder, or
• to actively cool the blank;
• thereby to facilitate laser shaping of the blank into the lamella.