Abstract: An apparatus for profiling a cornea of an eye is disclosed which comprises a topography instrument for determining the curvature of the cornea, a computer system for receiving information from the topography instrument for determining whether any areas of the cornea need to be ablated to correct for any abnormalities of the cornea, a diffractive optical element which is constructed based upon the determination of which areas of the cornea need to be ablated, and a beam of radiation being projected at the diffractive optical element for the diffractive optical element to modulate the beam of radiation and direct the modulated beam of radiation at the cornea for ablating the cornea to correct for any abnormalities of the cornea.

Abstract: A laser (e.g., excimer laser) and masking apparatus performs controlled sculpting of eye surfaces, such as corneal surfaces. The masking system includes a single/multi-layer (e.g., metallic) coated substrate (e.g., fused silica) with multiple openings in the substrate of desired size, shape and spacing to control the power transmission of a laser used in conjunction with the mask. The power transmission is controlled through the use of diffraction and absorption. The power transmission can be attuned to a particular surface by using topographical information of the surface in question. The surgeon can observe the topographical information and then pattern the openings (size, number, shape, spacing) so that reshaping can be done with greater intensity (using larger or more openings) to remove more corneal tissue in areas that the surgeon feels need more reshaping.