Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for measuring and mapping the anterior surface topography of a cornea to determine corneal aberrations and an optimal ablation pattern for refractive and therapeutic surgery of the cornea. The invention stimulates a prospective ablation process with real-time visual feedback accurately portraying results of topographic surface alteration that would occur during an actual ablation procedure, thereby achieving minimal corneal aberrations and optimal image quality.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for measuring and mapping the anterior surface topography of a cornea to determine corneal aberrations and an optimal ablation pattern for refractive and therapeutic surgery of the cornea The invention stimulates a prospective ablation process with real-time visual feedback accurately portraying results of topographic surface alter-ation that would occur during an actual ablation procedure, thereby achieving minimal conreal aberrations and optimal image quality.

Abstract: By localizing a location D on an optical axis, a virtual image is determined and compared with a measured virtual image. Using an iterative method, a location D can be shifted until the calculated and measured virtual images coincide and these data can then be used to determine an absolute spatial co-ordinate for a point on the surface. This method can be used, for example, in charting the surface of the cornea of an eye which has a reflecting film of tears.