Abstract: The present invention contemplates a new and improved wavefront aberrometer attachable to an ophthalmic microscope. The present invention also contemplates implementation of a long working distance and a large measurement range into the wavefront aberrometer. The present invention further contemplates to make it quick and easy to insert the wavefront aberrometer and to move it away from the working space of the ophthalmic microscope. The present invention still further contemplates implementation of a keratometry measurement to monitor the corneal status at the time of wavefront power measurement.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates an ophthalmic adaptive-optics instrument to obtain patient-verified prescription of low and high-order aberrations. The present invention further contemplates a new and improved method and apparatus of customized corneal ablation using a patient-verified prescription of low and high-order aberrations. The patient-verified prescription of high-order aberrations characterizes the aberration correction needed for optimal visual acuity and enables customized corneal ablation to achieve optimal visual acuity for each individual patient.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates an ophthalmic adaptive-optics instrument to obtain patient-verified prescription of low and high-order aberrations. The present invention further contemplates a new and improved method and apparatus of customized corneal ablation using a patient-verified prescription of low and high-order aberrations. The patient-verified prescription of high-order aberrations characterizes the aberration correction needed for optimal visual acuity and enables customized corneal ablation to achieve optimal visual acuity for each individual patient.

Abstract: Low energy, ultra-short (femptosecond) pulsed laser radiation is applied to the patient's eye in one of a number of patterns such that the exposed ocular tissue is ablated or excised through the process of optical breakdown or photodisruption in a very controlled fashion. The process can be gentle enough that the invention makes possible the performance of a number of surgical procedures that in the past could not have been performed at all, such as capsulorhexis, or were performed in a fashion that provided less than an ideal result or excessive trauma to the ocular tissue. Such latter applications include the making of incisions for corneal transplantation, radial and arcuate keratotomy, and intrastromal cavitation. Using the laser inside the eye allows the surgeon to perform glaucoma operations such as trabeculoplasty and iridotomy, cataract techniques such as capsulectomy, capsulorhexis and phacoablation, and vitreoretinal surgery, such as membrane resection.

Abstract: Laser ablation is applied to a patient's cornea in a circumscribed fashion, while controlling energy flux, beam exposure diameter and exposure time to achieve removal of a central corneal disc of tissue in a volumetric fashion. The concavity produced is filled in with donor corneal tissue to effect restoration of the anterior cornea, both anatomically and optically, as may be required in removing an anterior corneal opacity. In addition, the patient's ablated corneal bed or the posterior donor corneal stroma may have optical refractive power imposed upon it, thereby affecting correction of optical errors of the eye, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, optical aberrations or combinations thereof, upon placement of the donor tissue within the patient's bed. Synthetic material, fashioned appropriately, may also be used to cover the patient's exposed corneal bed, or placed on the bed and covered with donor tissue to achieve correction of these same optical errors.

Abstract: Apparatus for altering the refraction of corneal tissue including a perforated die to deform the corneal tissue in a predetermined manner so that a cut in a transverse plane achieves the desired alteration. The corneal tissue is held firmly to the die both by suction and mechanical pressure. The method of so treating corneal tissue by deforming it to obtain a desired refraction with a planar cut including a method of holding the tissue in the deformed state by means of suction and mechanical pressure.