초록 ▼

A method of modifying a cornea of an eye to reduce refractive error, the cornea having a surface and a main optical axis, including the steps of aiming and firing a laser at the cornea of the eye. The laser first separates an internal portion of the cornea forming a first internal surface and a sec

A method of modifying a cornea of an eye to reduce refractive error, the cornea having a surface and a main optical axis, including the steps of aiming and firing a laser at the cornea of the eye. The laser first separates an internal portion of the cornea forming a first internal surface and a second internal surface, the first internal surface facing in a posterior direction of the cornea and the second internal surface facing in an anterior direction of the cornea, with the first and second internal surfaces forming an internal pocket therebetween. An incision is then made from the surface of the cornea to the internal pocket, and an ocular implant is introduced through the incision and into the internal pocket of the cornea.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of modifying a cornea of an eye having a main optical axis and an external surface, comprising the steps of aiming an ultrashort pulse laser at the cornea, firing the ultrashort pulse laser at the cornea, the laser separating the internal area of the cornea offset f

What is claimed is: 1. A method of modifying a cornea of an eye having a main optical axis and an external surface, comprising the steps of aiming an ultrashort pulse laser at the cornea, firing the ultrashort pulse laser at the cornea, the laser separating the internal area of the cornea offset from the main optical axis into first and second substantially ring-shaped internal surfaces to form a corneal pocket, a portion of the first internal surface remaining attached to the second internal surface by an area located at the main optical axis, the first internal surface facing in a posterior direction of the cornea and the second internal surface facing in an anterior direction of the cornea, forming an opening from the external surface of the cornea to the internal pocket, and introducing an ocular material through the opening and into the internal pocket of the cornea, so that the ocular material at least partially encircles the portion of the first surface that remains attached to the second surface by the area located at the main optical axis, aiming a second laser at the cornea, and firing the second laser at an external surface of the cornea to ablate a portion of the external surface of the cornea overlying the portion of the first surface that remains attached to the second surface by the area located at the main optical axis. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of aiming and firing an ultrashort pulse laser include aiming and firing an ultra short pulse laser selected from the group consisting of a femtosecond laser, a picosecond laser and an attosecond laser. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the steps of aiming and firing a second laser at the cornea include aiming and firing an excimer laser at the external surface of the cornea. 4. A method of modifying a cornea of an eye, the cornea having an external surface, an internal portion and a main optical axis, the method comprising the steps of aiming a first laser at the internal portion of the cornea, adjacent the external surface, firing the first laser at the cornea, which separates the internal portion of the cornea forming a first internal surface and a second internal surface, the first internal surface facing in a posterior direction of the cornea and the second internal surface facing in an anterior direction of the cornea, the first and second internal surfaces forming an internal pocket there between, forming an opening from the external surface of the cornea to the internal pocket, introducing ocular material through the opening and into the internal pocket of the cornea; and placing a contact lens having a predetermined curvature on the external surface of the cornea to shape the ocular material. 5. A method according to claim 4, and further comprising the step of irradiating the ocular material so that a portion of the ocular material expands. 6. A method according to claim 4, and further comprising the step of irradiating the ocular material so that a portion of the ocular material contracts. 7. A method according to claim 4, wherein the introducing step includes introducing the ocular material so that the ocular material at least partially encircles the main optical axis. 8. A method according to claim 4, wherein the firing step includes firing the first laser at the cornea so that the internal pocket is substantially arcuate. 9. A method according to claim 4, wherein the introducing ocular material step includes introducing a lens. 10. A method according to claim 4, and further comprising the steps of applying a chemical to the external surface of the cornea, and passing the chemical from the external surface of the cornea to the internal pocket to polymerize the ocular material. 11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the lens is substantially ring-shaped. 12. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of aiming the first laser at the internal portion of the cornea includes aiming the first laser between the external surface of the cornea and about one-third of the distance from the external surface of the cornea to an interior chamber of the eye. 13. A method according to claim 4, wherein the steps of aiming and firing a first laser include aiming and firing an ultrashort pulse laser. 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the steps of aiming and firing a first laser include aiming and firing an ultrashort pulse laser selected from a group consisting of a femtosecond laser, a picosecond laser and an attosecond laser. 15. A method according to claim 4, and further including the steps of aiming a second laser at the cornea, and firing the second laser at the external surface of the cornea to ablate a portion of the external surface of the cornea. 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the steps of aiming and firing a second laser at the external surface of the cornea include aiming and firing an excimer laser at the cornea. 17. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of introducing ocular material includes introducing a gel through the opening and into the internal pocket of the cornea. 18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of introducing a gel through the opening includes introducing the gel through the opening using a needle. 19. A method according to claim 4, wherein separating the internal portion of the cornea includes separating the internal portion of the cornea so that a portion of the first surface remains attached to the second surface by an area located at the main optical axis. 20. A method according to claim 19, and further including the steps of aiming a second laser at the cornea, and firing the second laser at the external surface of the cornea to ablate a portion of the external surface of the cornea. 21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the steps of aiming and firing the second laser at the external surface of the cornea to ablate a portion of the external surface of the cornea include aiming and firing the second laser at the surface overlying the portion of the first internal surface that remains attached to the second internal surface by the area located at the main optical axis. 22. A method of modifying a cornea having a main optical axis and an external surface, comprising the steps of aiming and firing an ultrashort pulse laser at the cornea, which separates an internal area of the cornea adjacent the external surface into first and second internal surfaces to form an internal pocket, the first internal surface facing in a posterior direction of the cornea and the second internal surface facing in an anterior direction of the cornea, forming an opening from the surface of cornea to the internal pocket, introducing an ocular gel through the opening and into the internal pocket and in between the first and second internal surfaces of the internal pocket, placing a contact lens having a predetermined curvature on the surface of the cornea to shape the ocular gel, and irradiating the ocular gel so that the ocular gel solidifies. 23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the step of aiming and firing an ultrashort pulse laser includes aiming and firing an ultrashort pulse laser selected from the group consisting of a femtosecond laser, a picosecond laser and an attosecond laser. 24. A method according to claim 22, wherein the step of irradiating the ocular material includes irradiating the ocular material so that the at least a portion of ocular material changes volume. 25. A method according to claim 22, and further comprising the step of aiming and firing a second laser at a surface of the cornea to ablate a portion of the surface of the cornea. 26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the step of aiming and firing a second laser at the cornea include aiming and and firing an excimer laser at the surface of the cornea.