Method for corneal modification

Abstract

Method and apparatus for surgically altering the cornea of an eye by forming a pocket in the corneal stroma, situated between anterior posterior lamellar portions of the cornea, posteriorly displacing the anterior corneal portion to form a posteriorly protruding mass of corneal stroma, excising a part of the posteriorly protruding mass, and removing the excised part from the pocket. Also, the invention includes inserting into the pocket a die that has an anteriorly facing impression surface whereby posteriorly displacing the anterior lamellar portion forces a portion of the posteriorly protruding mass against a portion of the impression surface, and further includes removing the die from the pocket after the excision. Also, apparatus for surgically modifying the cornea of an eye includes a cutter guide for placement in a pocket formed in the corneal stroma, adapted to be placed between anterior and posterior lamellar portions of the cornea, and a cutter for excising a posterior portion of the posterior stromal mass of the anterior lamellar portion, the cutter and the guide being adapted to cooperate in guiding the cutter through a prescribed effective stroke during the excision. Also, the apparatus includes a die for placement in a pocket formed in the corneal stroma between anterior and posterior lamellar portions of the cornea, and a cutter for excising a posterior portion of the posterior stromal mass.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.