Vision correction using intrastromal pocket and flap
OwnerGholam A. Peymaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of modifying a cornea of an eye, including the steps of separating an internal portion of the cornea into first and second internal corneal surfaces. Ocular material is then inserted in-between the first and second corneal surfaces. A flap is formed on the surface of the cornea and moved to expose a third internal corneal surface, which is ablated with a laser.
Claims36
A method of modifying a cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of separating an internal portion of the cornea into first and second internal corneal surfaces;
- inserting ocular material in-between the first and second corneal surfaces;
- forming a flap on the surface of the cornea;
- moving the flap to expose a third internal corneal surface;
- and
- ablating the third corneal surface with a laser.
A method of correcting vision in an eye, the eye having a cornea and a main visual axis, comprising the steps of
- forming a substantially ring-shaped pocket in the cornea of the eye adjacent to the main visual axis of the eye by separating an internal portion of the cornea into first and second substantially ring-shaped internal surfaces;
- inserting ocular material in the pocket;
- shaping the ocular material to a predetermined shape;
- forming a flap between the external surface of the cornea and the pocket;
- moving the flap to expose third and fourth internal corneal surfaces;
- and
- ablating at least one of the third and fourth internal corneal surfaces.
A method of correcting the refractive error in the cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of
- firing a laser at the cornea of the eye to form a pocket therein, the pocket being adjacent the main optical axis;
- forming an opening through the external surface of the cornea to the pocket;
- inserting ocular material through the opening and into the pocket;
- placing a contact on the external surface of the cornea to shape the ocular material into a predetermined configuration;
- separating a layer of the cornea overlying the main optical axis to form a flap, the separated layer being in-between the external surface and the pocket;
- moving the flap to expose an internal surface of the cornea that overlies the main optical axis;
- and
- ablating the exposed internal surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.