Abstract: An automated method is described for advantageously preparing and treating an eye of the patient. The method further provides a vision-corrective procedure, such as photothermal keratoplasty. The automated method is useful to dry the cornea to reduce or eliminate a tear film on the corneal surface that might otherwise interfere with or reduce the efficacy of a vision-corrective procedure and thereafter to treat the cornea according to a vision-corrective procedure. The automated method is user-friendly, allowing the treatment provider to develop or to select an appropriate pre-treatment and treatment plan and to activate sane using a familiar "Windows" environment. The method has particular application in the area of automated corneal preparation and treatment, it may be used in the automated preparation and treatment of other tissues or substrates.

Abstract: An instrument primarily adapted for use in photothermal keratoplasty procedures to shrink collagen tissue within a cornea of an eye being treated by controlled heating of the tissue with infra-red radiation. In a specific implementation example, a moveable multi-faceted prism is a primary optical element that forms a desired treatment infra-red radiation pattern from a single beam source. Multiple exposures to variations of the radiation pattern are provided. Parameters of two or more exposures to spot radiation patterns are stored in a memory of the instrument, and automatically configure the instrument to deliver the two or more exposures in sequence. Automatic calibration of the radiation intensity is also provided. A guide positions the head of the patient with respect to the instrument, and sensors monitoring movement of both the head and eye provide signals used to by the instrument to control radiation delivery.

Abstract: A noninvasive method is described for performing accurate and controlled reshaping of the anterior surface of the cornea in order to correct ocular refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. The invention uses a light source emitting a wavelength or wavelengths with correct optical penetration depth(s) to induce changes in corneal stromal collagen without damaging the corneal endothelium, together with a light delivery and control means for producing the required irradiance, exposure time, and geometric pattern, in order to achieve the desired change in corneal shape. Corneal shape is monitored before, during, and after the procedure by a corneal topography system. Anterior corneal surface cooling by a transparent heat sink is used to prevent damage to the epithelium and to Bowman's layer.