Abstract: Presbyopia is treated by a system using various lasers to remove a portion of the scleral tissue and increase the accommodation of the presbyopic patient's eye. Stable accommodation is achieved by the filling of the sub-conjunctiva tissue to the laser-ablated scleral areas. The proposed laser wavelength ranges from ultraviolet to infrared of (0.15-0.36) microns, (0.5-1.4) microns and (0.9-3.2) microns. Both scanning and fiber delivered systems are proposed to generate the ablation patterns. Laser ablation of the sclera may be conducted with or without opening the conjunctiva layer.

Abstract: A method for treating presbyopia by performing laser ablation of the sclera involves making incisions into the sclera which are filled in with material which is more elastic than the original scleral tissue when the incisions heal. Such incisions may be placed radially about the eye in the scleral region outside the limbus of the eye. The increased circumferential diameter and flexibility of the treated portion of the sclera, along with the overall greater volume of the eye, can allow for an increase in the accommodation which can be produced in the eye via the action of the ciliary muscles on the lens and front portion of the sclera. A method for modeling the resulting visual acuity as a linear and non-linear function.

Abstract: A scanning ablation laser is disclosed having a fundamental output from a mirrored facet in the ultraviolet range, the fundamental ultraviolet output having an energy level of no greater than 10 mJ/pulse on the corneal surface. A controller controls the laser and scanning mechanism to deliver a focused and scanned pulsed output laser beam in a predetermined overlapping pattern onto a plurality of positions on a corneal surface to photoablate at least one layer of corneal tissue such that an overlap among respective ablating spots of individual pulses of the scanned pulsed output laser beam on a single ablation layer is at least 50%. The scanning mechanism may locate laser beam pulses in a random pattern on the corneal surface. In one embodiment, a beam splitter splits the pulsed output laser beam into a plurality of laser beams.

Abstract: A method for treating presbyopia by performing laser ablation of the sclera involves making incisions into the sclera which are filled in with material which is more elastic than the original scleral tissue when the incisions heal. Such incisions may be placed radially about the eye in the scleral region outside the limbus of the eye. The increased circumferential diameter and flexibility of the treated portion of the sclera, along with the overall greater volume of the eye, can allow for an increase in the accommodation which can be produced in the eye via the action of the ciliary muscles on the lens and front portion of the sclera.

Abstract: A scanning ablation laser is disclosed having a fundamental output from a mirrored facet in the ultraviolet range, the fundamental ultraviolet output having an energy level of no greater than 10 mJ/pulse on the corneal surface. A controller controls the laser and scanning mechanism to deliver a focused and scanned pulsed output laser beam in a predetermined overlapping pattern onto a plurality of positions on a corneal surface to photoablate at least one layer of corneal tissue such that an overlap among respective ablating spots of individual pulses of the scanned pulsed output laser beam on a single ablation layer is at least 50%. The scanning mechanism may locate laser beam pulses in a random pattern on the corneal surface. In one embodiment, a beam splitter splits the pulsed output laser beam into a plurality of laser beams.

Abstract: Presbyopia is treated by a method which uses ablative lasers to ablate the sclera tissue and increase the accommodation of the ciliary body. Tissue bleeding is prevented by an ablative laser having a wavelength of between 0.15 and 3.2 micron. A scanning system is proposed to perform various patterns on the sclera area of the cornea to treat presbyopia and to prevent other eye disorder such as glaucoma. Laser parameters are determined for accurate sclera expansion. REEXAMINATION RESULTS The questions raised in reexamination request no. 90/006,090, filed Aug. 22, 2001, have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e), for ex parte reexaminations, or the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 316 as provided in 37 CFR 1.997(e) for inter partes reexaminations.

Abstract: A method and surgical technique for corneal reshaping and for presbyopia correction are provided. The preferred embodiments of the system consists of a scanner, a beam spot controller and coupling fibers and the basic laser having a wavelength of (190-310) nm, (0.5-3.2) microns and (5.6-6.2) microns and a pulse duration of about (10-150) nanoseconds, (10-500) microseconds and true continuous wave. New mid-infrared gas lasers are provided for the corneal reshaping procedures. Presbyopia is treated by a method which uses ablative laser to ablate the sclera tissue and increase the accommodation of the ciliary body. The tissue bleeding is prevented by a dual-beam system having ablative and coagulation lasers. The preferred embodiments include short pulse ablative lasers (pulse duration less than 200 microseconds) with wavelength range of (0.15-3.2) microns and the long pulse (longer than 200 microseconds) coagulative lasers at (0.5-10.6) microns.