Abstract: An apparatus and method is used to cut a substantially oblong corneal flap to facilitate reshaping of a live cornea. In particular, the method and apparatus of cutting a substantially oblong corneal flap is used during laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery to correct hyperopia. A cornea holding device is positioned over the live cornea such that a portion of the cornea extends through a substantially oblong opening in the cornea holding device. The portion of the cornea conforms to the oblong shape of the opening and is cut to form a substantially oblong corneal flap. The substantially oblong corneal flap is folded over to expose an oblong inner corneal surface. A laser is directed at the oblong corneal surface to ablate a ring-shaped region. The oblong shape of the corneal flap and the exposed inner corneal surface allows the laser ablation to occur without damaging the connecting portion of the corneal flap or corneal blood vessels which extend vertically in the cornea.

Abstract: A method and apparatus, which provides improved conditioning and adherence of a resected corneal flap into its original position on the eye following the laser ablation step of LASIK vision correction surgery is disclosed. The method comprises resecting at least a portion of at least one of a person's eyes to expose an inner layer of said cornea, which is sculpted using radiation from a laser beam to produce a desired corneal topography. After the desired topography is achieved, the corneal flap is floated back into its proper position in a sterile solution and to remove any debris associated with the sculpting step from the patient's eye. After the corneal flap is repositioned, a flap drying apparatus is used to dry the repositioned corneal flap by applying filtered, compressed air at a flow rate substantially between zero and 2.