Device for LASIK

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for LASIK having the following: a first laser radiation source (12) for generating first laser radiation pulses (14) having a power density for bringing about disruption of the corneal tissue; first means (24, 44, K) for guiding and shaping the first laser radiation pulses into the corneal tissue; a second laser radiation source (46) for generating second laser radiation pulses (48) having a power density for bringing about ablation of corneal tissues; second means (40, 42, 44, 24) for guiding and shaping the second laser radiation pulses relative to the cornea; a controller (50) having a first processing program (56a) for controlling the first means and the first laser radiation pulses for generating a cut (72) in the cornea (60; and having a second processing program (56b) for controlling the second means and the second laser radiation pulses for reshaping and modified the imaging properties of the cornea, wherein the first processing program generates regular corneal surface structures causing a rainbow effect in the imaging properties of the cornea; and a third processing program (56c) controlling the second means and the second laser radiation pulses for removing the indicated regular structures (68).

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to devices and methods for laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Background technique [0002] In refractive eye surgery, visual defects are corrected or mitigated by intervening on the patient's eye to change the refractive and imaging properties of the eye. Specifically, LASIK surgery is known to reshape the cornea of ​​the eye. In traditional LASIK surgery, the first step is to use a mechanical keratotome to create a flat corneal incision to create a so-called valve, which remains firmly attached to the cornea at one end so that it can be turned up to expose the underlying corneal tissue (stroma). Subsequently, ablation (ie, removal of tissue) is performed in the exposed stroma, usually using excimer laser irradiation, and the valve is inverted and healed. The epithelium is largely spared during this procedure, and the healing process is relatively quick and painless. In a traditional mechanical keratotome, a sharp b...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0007] Often, refractive ablation, the purposeful removal of corneal tissue for the purpose of reshaping the cornea with the desired imaging properties, does also remove the unwanted grating structures described above, but generally this Effective in areas of the cornea where a relatively "large" amount of tissue has been removed, and in corneas where refractive ablation (i.e., removal of the desired amount of ablation for the purpose of correcting image characteristics) has not removed too much tissue Areas, such as the intermediate corneal region in the case of hypermetropia correction, where unwanted grating structures often remain in the cornea

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