Abstract: An ophthalmic instrument and ophthalmic method for preventing epithelium cells from being deposited at the stroma interface during LASIK. The ophthalmic instrument has a base having a flat abutment face, two mutually concentric annular blades upstanding from the abutment face, and a cross-hair for sighting the position of the annular blades. The annular blades have a height of about 50 microns with respect to the abutment face, an inner annular blade thereof is from about 9 mm. to about 9.5 mm. in diameter, and an outer annular blade thereof is about 10.5 mm. in diameter. The ophthalmic method is performed prior to LASIK. The ophthalmic instrument is aligned over the cornea via the cross-hairs and then pressed upon the eye of a LASIK patient so that the annular blades cut into the cornea until the abutment face abuts the cornea and prevents further penetration. The depth of cut of the annular blades is such as to completely cut through the epithelium.