Corneal heat and stretch method and apparatus
AssigneeProteus Therapeutics, Inc.
InventorH. Mark Stanley, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus to alter the shape of the cornea of an eye provides for heating a portion of the cornea to a temperature not exceeding the collagen shrinkage temperature, and applying a pressure differential to a portion of the cornea. The combined effect of elevated temperature and stretching forces leads to permanent residual strains in preferred directions, and thus to a permanent new shape of the cornea. The method is applicable to the correction or reduction of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
Claims13
A method of altering the shape of a subject eye, comprising the steps of:
- (a) heating a predetermined heating zone of the eye to a therapeutic temperature below a collagen shrinkage temperature,
- (b) applying a therapeutic pressure differential within a predetermined treatment zone of the eye, thereby stretching collagen fibrils of the eye in predetermined directions.
A method of changing cornea shape, comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying heat to a surface of an eye wherein heat is applied at a temperature and for a time sufficient to induce creep of the eye but insufficient to induce shrinkage of collagen fibrils of the eye;
- (b) deforming the shape of the cornea by the application of a pressure differential whereby the deformed shape is maintained after the pressure is removed and the eye returns to body temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.