Adjustable universal implant blank for modifying corneal curvature and methods of modifying corneal curvature therewith

A method for correcting the refractive error in a cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of:

• positioning an inlay on the surface of the cornea, the inlay having a first surface and a second surface, and the second surface being adjacent the surface of the cornea,
• applying energy to the inlay to ablate a portion of the first surface of the inlay by an amount adapted to correct the refractive error in the eye,
• removing the inlay from the surface of the cornea,
• separating the cornea into a first corneal surface and a second corneal surface, the first corneal surface facing in a posterior direction of the eye and the second corneal surface facing in an anterior direction of the eye, and
• positioning the inlay adjacent at least one of the first corneal surface and the second corneal surface.

A method for correcting the refractive error in a cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of:

• separating the cornea into a first corneal surface and a second corneal surface, the first corneal surface facing in a posterior direction of the eye and the second surface corneal facing in an anterior direction of the eye,
• positioning an inlay adjacent at least one of the first corneal surface and the second corneal surface,
• measuring the refractive error in the eye,
• altering the refractive properties of the inlay, and
• repositioning the inlay adjacent at least one of the first corneal surface and the second corneal surface.

A method for correcting refractive error in a cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of:

• separating the cornea into a first corneal surface and a second corneal surface, thereby forming a flap in the surface of the cornea, the first corneal surface facing in a posterior direction of the eye and the second surface corneal facing in an anterior direction of the eye,
• moving the flap to expose the first and second corneal surfaces,
• positioning an inlay having a first surface and a second surface adjacent at least one of the first corneal surface and the second corneal surface,
• repositioning the flap so that the inlay is positioned between the first and second corneal surfaces,
• moving the flap to expose the first surface of the inlay, and
• applying energy to the first surface of the inlay to ablate a portion of the first surface of inlay to correct refractive error in the eye;
• wherein positioning an inlay on the surface of the cornea includes, positioning an inlay having a convex second surface.

A method for correcting refractive error in a cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of:

• separating the cornea into a first corneal surface and a second corneal surface, thereby forming a flap in the surface of the cornea, the first corneal surface facing in a posterior direction of the eye and the second surface corneal facing in an anterior direction of the eye,
• moving the flap to expose the first and second corneal surfaces,
• positioning an inlay having a first surface and a second surface adjacent at least one of the first corneal surface and the second corneal surface,
• repositioning the flap so that the inlay is positioned between the first and second corneal surfaces,
• moving the flap to expose the first surface of the inlay, and
• applying energy to the first surface of the inlay to ablate a portion of the first surface of inlay to correct refractive error in the eye;
• wherein positioning an inlay on the surface of the cornea includes, positioning an inlay having a flat second surface.

A method for correcting refractive error in a cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of:

• separating the cornea into a first corneal surface and a second corneal surface, thereby forming a flap in the surface of the cornea, the first corneal surface facing in a posterior direction of the eye and the second surface corneal facing in an anterior direction of the eye,
• moving the flap to expose the first and second corneal surfaces,
• positioning an inlay having a first surface and a second surface adjacent at least one of the first corneal surface and the second corneal surface,
• repositioning the flap so that the inlay is positioned between the first and second corneal surfaces,
• moving the flap to expose the first surface of the inlay, and
• applying energy to the first surface of the inlay to ablate a portion of the first surface of inlay to correct refractive error in the eye;
• wherein positioning an inlay on the surface of the cornea includes, positioning an inlay having a toric second surface.

A method for correcting refractive error in a cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of:

• separating the cornea into a first corneal surface and a second corneal surface, thereby forming a flap in the surface of the cornea, the first corneal surface facing in a posterior direction of the eye and the second surface corneal facing in an anterior direction of the eye,
• moving the flap to expose the first and second corneal surfaces,
• positioning an inlay having a first surface and a second surface adjacent at least one of the first corneal surface and the second corneal surface,
• repositioning the flap so that the inlay is positioned between the first and second corneal surfaces,
• moving the flap to expose the first surface of the inlay, and applying energy to the first surface of the inlay to ablate a portion of the first surface of inlay to correct refractive error in the eye;
• wherein positioning an inlay on the surface of the cornea includes, positioning an inlay having a concave second surface.

A method of correcting refractive error in a cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of

• separating the cornea into a first corneal surface and a second corneal surface, the first corneal surface facing in a posterior direction of the eye and the second corneal surface facing in an anterior direction of the eye,
• allowing the cornea to at least partially heal,
• positioning an inlay on an exterior surface of the cornea, the inlay having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface being adjacent the exterior surface of the cornea,
• applying energy to the inlay to ablate a portion of the first surface of the inlay by an amount adapted to correct the refractive error in the eye,
• reseparating the cornea into the first and second corneal surfaces, and
• positioning the inlay adjacent at least one of the first and second corneal surfaces.

A method for modifying the curvature of a live cornea, comprising the steps of:

• implanting a first inlay having at least one section within said live cornea such that a shape of said blank alters the curvature of said live cornea;
• implanting a second inlay within said live cornea adjacent said first inlay to further change the curvature of said live cornea;
• and
• ablating at least one of said first and second inlays.

A method for correcting refractive error in a cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of:

• separating the cornea into a first corneal surface and a second corneal surface, thereby forming a flap in the surface of the cornea, the first corneal surface facing in a posterior direction of the eye and the second surface corneal facing in an anterior direction of the eye,
• moving the flap to expose the first and second corneal surfaces,
• positioning a first inlay adjacent at least one of the first corneal surface and the second corneal surface,
• repositioning the flap so that the inlay is positioned between the first and second corneal surfaces,
• moving the flap to expose the first surface of the inlay, and
• positioning a second inlay adjacent said first inlay to further correct refractive error in the eye.

A method for modifying the curvature of a live cornea, comprising the steps of:

• implanting a first inlay having at least one section within said live cornea such that a shape of said first inlay alters the curvature of said live cornea;
• and
• implanting a second inlay within said live cornea adjacent said first inlay to further change the curvature of said live cornea;
• wherein the implanting the second inlay step includes positioning the second inlay so that it overlies a portion of said first inlay.