Method, implant, and apparatus for refractive keratoplasty

Abstract

A method, implant, and apparatus to alter the refractive power of the cornea. The method involves creation of radial, intrastromal corneal incisions and insertion of semirigid, biocompatible implants (13). An apparatus (26) is provided to facilitate creation of the incisions with precise depth, orientation, and dimension. The implants (13) are of predetermined shape and curvature in accordance with the patient's pre-existing refractive error and corneal curvature. The implants (13) induce a predictable and stable flattening or steepening of corneal curvature for the correction of refractive errors. If residual refractive error is present following this procedure, the curvature or dimensions of the implants may be selectively increased or decreased by application of laser or other energy source to a heat-shrinkable portion of the implants, thereby eliminating residual refractive error.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.