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US 5,263,951 AGranted
Correction of the optical focusing system of the eye using laser thermal keratoplasty
AssigneeKerus Medical Systems
InventorsKenneth G. Spears, Gerald Horn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laser system applies energy of the proper wavelength to the cornea of the eye and the stroma of the cornea is thereby heated and changes permanently, causing the shape of the cornea to change. Laser treatment patterns are disclosed for correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatisms.
Claims49
A system for changing the shape of the cornea of an eye by heating a corneal stroma to correct vision, the combination comprising:
- means for generating a laser beam which has a wavelength such that the laser beam's absorption coefficient when passing through water ranges from 5 cm.sup.-1 to 114 cm.sup.-1 ;
- means for directing the laser beam onto the cornea, said means being a probe assembly which connects to receive the laser beam and which engages the cornea of a patient;
- means for shaping the laser beam into a treatment pattern;
- and
- means for controlling the amount of heating in the corneal stroma in a manner such that said laser beam having said wavelength with said adsorption coefficient and shaped into said treatment pattern is directed onto the cornea for a period of time of about one second or more to thereby control the change in shape of the cornea without incising, coagulating, scarring or ablating the corneal stroma;
- and
- an optical fiber having one end positioned in the laser beam and its other end connected to the probe assembly, and the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber at its one end tilted with respect to the direction of the laser beam.
4 more elements
A system for changing the shape of the cornea of an eye by heating a corneal stroma to correct vision, the combination comprising:
- means for generating a laser beam which has a wavelength such that the laser beam's adsorption coefficient when passing through water ranges from 5 cm.sup.-1 to 114 cm.sup.-1 ;
- means for directing the laser beam into the cornea, said means being a probe assembly which connects to receive the laser beam and which engages the cornea of a patient;
- means for shaping the laser beam into a treatment pattern;
- means for controlling the amount of heating in the corneal stroma in a manner such that said laser beam having said wavelength with said adsorption coefficient and shaped into said treatment pattern is directed onto the cornea for a period of time of about one second or more to thereby control the change in shape of the cornea without incising, coagulating scarring or ablating the corneal stroma;
- means for producing light energy;
- means connected to the probe assembly for directing the light energy to the cornea and gathering light energy which is scattered by corneal haze;
- and
- detector means connected to receive the gathered light energy and being operable to produce a signal indicative of the amount of heating in the corneal stroma.
5 more elements
A system for changing the shape of the cornea of an eye by heating a corneal stroma to correct vision, the combination comprising:
- means for generating a laser beam which has a wavelength such that the laser beam's absorption coefficient when passing through water ranges from 5 cm.sup.-1 to 114 cm.sup.-1 ;
- means for directing the laser beam onto the cornea, said means being a probe assembly which connects to receive the laser beam and which engages the cornea of a patient;
- means for shaping the laser beam into a treatment pattern to produce a treatment disc which impinges on the central region of the cornea and which causes the central region to flatten such that its focal power is reduced;
- means for controlling the amount of heating in the corneal stroma in a manner such that said laser beam having said wavelength with said absorption coefficient and shaped into said treatment pattern is directed onto the cornea for a period of time of about one second or more delivering laser energy to the cornea at an average energy density throughout the treatment pattern of 0.1 to 1.5 Joules/mm.sup.2 to thereby control the change in shape of the cornea without incising, coagulating, scarring or ablating the corneal stroma;
- means for producing light energy;
- means connected to the probe assembly for directing the light energy to the cornea and gathering light energy which is scattered by corneal haze;
- and
- detector means connected to receive the gathered light energy and being operable to produce a signal indicative of the amount of heating in the corneal stroma.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.