초록 ▼

An apparatus is described for use in combination with a noninvasive ophthalmological method for cornea reshaping in order to correct ocular refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. This apparatus is called a coupler and it is made of a material

An apparatus is described for use in combination with a noninvasive ophthalmological method for cornea reshaping in order to correct ocular refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. This apparatus is called a coupler and it is made of a material which is substantially transparent to the light energy used to reshape the cornea. The coupler conducts heat from the anterior portion of the cornea during the heating of the stroma by the light energy. The reshaping is enhanced by the coupler as it has a corneal engaging surface with a radius of curvature which approximates the desired emmetropic shape of the cornea. In addition to being a heat sink and template for the eye, the coupler also acts as a positioner and restrainer of the eye by attaching itself to the eye via an annular suction ring. Finally, the coupler also acts as a mask to prevent accidental exposure of the central optic zone to any light energy during the cornea reshaping procedure.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of reshaping an outside surface of a cornea of an eye, comprising:engaging an outside surface of the eye surrounding the cornea with a coupler structure that also contacts the outside surface of the cornea with a concave surface having a shape corresponding approximately to a desired emm

1. A method of reshaping an outside surface of a cornea of an eye, comprising:engaging an outside surface of the eye surrounding the cornea with a coupler structure that also contacts the outside surface of the cornea with a concave surface having a shape corresponding approximately to a desired emmetropic shape of the corneal outside surface, the concave surface being transparent to infrared radiation, providing a liquid layer between the outside surface of the cornea and the concave surface of the coupler, passing infrared radiation through the concave surface of the coupler, liquid layer and into the cornea in order to raise the temperature of collagen tissue within the cornea sufficiently to shrink said tissue without damaging an endothelium layer of the cornea, and urging the concave surface of the coupler against the outside surface of the cornea during the passing of infrared radiation.