초록 ▼

A method and device for highly accurate corneal topographical mapping and a device for effecting the mapping for use in effecting vision correction by removal of corneal tissue. The method and device involve use of a modified optical interferometer with directing of a coherent light beam, such as fr

A method and device for highly accurate corneal topographical mapping and a device for effecting the mapping for use in effecting vision correction by removal of corneal tissue. The method and device involve use of a modified optical interferometer with directing of a coherent light beam, such as from a laser, to the anterior surface of a cornea; splitting the beam so that half the beam is directed to a reference object having a predetermined shape; capturing the reflected light from the cornea and the reference object so as to form an interference pattern; and using the interference pattern to determine deviations or displacements of the corneal surface from the known reference shape. The deviations are then utilized in corneal tissue removing procedures, such as RK, PRK and RLK, by determination of the extent and position of tissue removal. With a modified RLK procedure, the deviations are used in preparing an appropriate corneal template for use with a keratome using a high speed water jet as the cutting means.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for corneal topographical contour mapping and corneal reshaping for vision correction, said method comprising the steps of:a) directing a coherent light beam to the anterior surface of a cornea;b) splitting the beam so that a portion of the beam is directed to a

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for corneal topographical contour mapping and corneal reshaping for vision correction, said method comprising the steps of:a) directing a coherent light beam to the anterior surface of a cornea;b) splitting the beam so that a portion of the beam is directed to a stationary reference object having a predetermined shape and capturing reflected light from the reference object as an image of the surface of the reference object;c) capturing the reflected light from the cornea as an image of the anterior surface of the cornea; bringing into coincidence the image of the cornea and the image of the reference surface and forming a recognizable interference pattern;d) using the interference pattern to determine deviations of the anterior shape of the cornea from the known reference shapee) using the deviations to provide a topographical map of the cornea;f) determining from said topographical map the degree of curvature of the anterior shape of the cornea necessary for said corneal reshaping for vision correction;g) removing a portion of tissue with a tissue removal means, from the anterior of the cornea, which portion of tissue defines a deviation of said curvature of the anterior shape of the cornea from the anterior shape of the cornea of the topographical map, to effect the vision correction wherein the tissue removal means comprises a water jet and wherein the portion of the cornea comprising the deviation of said curvature of the anterior shape of the cornea from the anterior shape of the cornea of the topographical map is shaped by a template to provide a regular surface, wherein said water jet cuts along the regular surface to effect the vision correction.