Systems and methods for corneal surface ablation to correct hyperopia

A method of performing selective ablation of a corneal surface of an eye to effect a desired corneal shape, wherein the desired corneal shape includes a first section having a first depth of tissue removal and a second section having a second depth of tissue removal less than the first depth, the method comprising:

• establishing an optical correction zone on a corneal surface of an eye;
• directing a laser beam through an aperture to produce a profiled beam having substantially rectangular shape and a cross-sectional area smaller than the optical correction zone;
• displacing the laser beam to a plurality of selected locations on the optical correction zone to effect the desired corneal shape, wherein at least a portion of a substantial amount of the selected locations covers the first section of the optical correction zone to remove corneal tissue to the first depth at the first section, and at least a portion of a lesser amount of the selected locations cover the second section to remove corneal tissue to the second depth at the second section that is less than the first depth;
• and
• allowing the laser beam to pass through a variable diameter diaphragm and a variable width slit.

A method of performing selective ablation of a corneal surface of an eye to effect a desired corneal shape, wherein the desired corneal shape includes a first section having a first depth of tissue removal and a second section having a second depth of tissue removal less than the first depth, the method comprising:

• establishing an optical correction zone on a corneal surface of an eye;
• directing a laser beam through an aperture to produce a profiled beam having a cross-sectional area smaller than the optical correction zone;
• displacing the laser beam to a plurality of selected locations on the optical correction zone to effect the desired corneal shape, wherein at least a portion of a substantial amount of the selected locations covers the first section of the optical correction zone to remove corneal tissue to the first depth at the first section, and at least a portion of a lesser amount of the selected locations cover the second section to remove corneal tissue to the second depth at the second section that is less than the first depth;
• allowing the laser beam to pass through a variable diameter diaphragm and a variable width slit;
• and
• reducing the diameter of the diaphragm and the width of the slit as the laser beam is displaced radially outward.