Abstract: An aspiration cannula is used in tectonic lamellar keratoplasty. The cannula is hand manipulatable and aspirates irrigation fluid and repositions a corneal cap or flap during corneal surgery. The cannula comprises a hand manipulatable elongated tube having an inlet end with a plurality of ports spaced apart along the length of the tube for aspirating irrigation fluid around a corneal incision interface and an outlet end for disposing the fluid.

Abstract: A method for reducing irregular astigmatism and debris during lamellar surgery of the eye is practiced by preoperatively marking the corneal surface with a pattern or radial and pararadial lines. After making the incision, the incised corneal cap or flap is removed, followed by reshaping of the corneal stroma, irrigating the corneal bed to wash residual debris, and aspirating fluid from the eye. The corneal cap or flap is then repositioned on the cornea by realignment of the pattern of radial and pararadial lines.

Abstract: A corneal irrigation cannula is used in tectonic lamellar keratoplasty. The cannula is hand manipulatable and allows for entry into the interface of a corneal flap or cap and a corneal bed for the delivery for irrigating fluid under low flow through a plurality of irrigating ports thereby irrigating the interface by gently elevating the overlying cap or flap and washing residual debris from the corneal bed.

Abstract: An elevating instrument and method for atraumatically lifting a corneal cap or flap during corneal lamellar surgery having a handle and an elevator head at one end of said handle. The head has a leading edge with an inclined top face extending vertically away from said edge and a bottom face for atraumatically engaging the corneal surface. The head is adapted for insertion into a corneal cap or flap incision with said leading edge and inclined top face exposing a corneal edge for lifting the cap or flap.

Abstract: A corneal irrigation cannula is used in tectonic lamellar keratoplasty. The cannula is hand manipulatable and allows for entry into the interface of a corneal flap or cap and a corneal bed for the delivery for irrigating fluid under low flow through a plurality of irrigating ports thereby irrigating the interface by gently elevating the overlying cap or flap and washing residual debris from the corneal bed.

Abstract: A corneal surface marker is used to improve centration of surgical laser instrumention and repositioning of a corneal cap or flap in corneal surgery, particularly lamellar corneal surgery. The marker has inner and outer concentric rings with marking radials extending off the rings to provide adequate reference points for marking indicia to be placed on the corneal surface. The method involves positioning a patient's head with direct light thereby fixating and centering the laser instrumentation over the visual axis of the eye, preoperatively marking the corneal surface with a plurality of radial lines spaced about the visual axis, and aligning a reticule of a surgical laser instrument over the radial lines thereby permitting anatomic centration of the instrument over the visual axis for subsequent accurate surgical reshaping of the cornea.

Abstract: A corneal surface marker is used to improve centration and repositioning of a corneal cap or flap in lamellar corneal surgery. The marker has inner and outer concentric rings with marking radial and pararadials extending off the rings to provide adequate reference points for marking indicia to be placed on the corneal surface. The method involves preoperatively marking the corneal surface with suitable indicia in a pattern of radial and pararadial lines extending over the area of the cornea through which an incision will be made to excise a cap or flap and, after the keratotomy is performed, the cap or flap is replaced by realignment of the radial and pararadial lines with the area of the cornea surrounding the incision.

Abstract: Radial keratotomies can be performed by incising centrifugally. A vibrating diamond front cutting blade with a reverse cutting edge incises centrifugally to form a squared-off incision at the optical zone. The incision can be retraced if an enhancement is necessary with the vibrating blade without tearing the collagen or resulting in blade setting variability or variability due to corneal compression.

Abstract: A pupillary dilation and protection device is disclosed comprising an elastomeric ring made from biocompatible material having a groove formed therein for receiving and protecting the pupillary rim and iris, whereby, when the ring is inserted into the pupil of an eye of a patient, it mechanically dilates the pupil.