Device and method for reducing corneal induced aberrations during ophthalmic laser surgery
A disposable lens for reconfiguring the cornea of an eye for ophthalmic laser surgery includes a lens which has a flat anterior surface that is formed opposite a contact surface. A skirt surrounds the contact surface and extends outwardly therefrom to define a chamber. The skirt is formed with a groove which creates a suction channel between the skirt and the contact surface in the chamber. In its operation, the lens is positioned over the cornea and a vacuum pump is selectively activated to create a partial vacuum in the suction channel. Due to this partial vacuum, the cornea is drawn into the chamber where it is urged against the contact surface of the lens. The result of this is that the cornea is flattened into a configuration where the introduction of spherical aberration and coma into a light beam passing into the cornea is reduced or eliminated.
1. A lens system for reconfiguring the cornea and holding the reconfigured cornea during a laser treatment, said system comprising:
a lens member having an anterior surface and formed with a contact surface opposed to said anterior surface;
a skirt for forming a seal against the exterior surface of the eye, said skirt surrounding said contact surface and projecting outwardly therefrom to define a recessed chamber therebetween, said recessed chamber having an opening;
a passageway positioned substantially adjacent to said contact surface, said passageway in fluid communication with said recessed chamber; and
a suction device in fluid communication with said passageway for creating a partial vacuum in said recessed chamber to reconfigure the cornea against said contact surface when said skirt is placed in contact with said exterior surface of the eye.
2. A device for reconfiguring the surface of a cornea, said device comprising:
a transparent optical element having a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first surface is shaped to reconfigure the surface of the cornea;
a skirt adjoining said optical element thereby forming a recessed chamber around said first surface, said recessed chamber having an opening; and
a passageway positioned adjacent to said opening, said passageway in fluid communication with said recessed chamber;
wherein said passageway is adapted for connection in fluid communication with a suction device for creating a partial vacuum in said recessed chamber.
3. A device as recited in claim 2 , wherein said skirt is cylindrical.
4. A device as recited in claim 2 , wherein said skirt extends outwardly from said first surface.
5. A device as recited in claim 2 , wherein said second surface is substantially flat.
6. A device as recited in claim 2 , wherein said first surface is curved.
7. A device for reconfiguring the surface of a cornea, said device comprising:
a transparent optical element having a first surface and a second surface;
a skirt adjoining said optical element thereby forming a recessed chamber around said first surface, said recessed chamber having an opening wherein said skirt has a sealing surface extending into said recessed chamber, wherein said sealing surface is formed of a soft, medical grade plastic; and
a passageway positioned adjacent to said opening, said passageway in fluid communication with said recessed chamber;
wherein said passageway is adapted for connection in fluid communication with a suction device for creating a partial vacuum in said recessed chamber.
8. A device for reconfiguring the surface of a cornea, said device comprising:
a transparent optical element having a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first surface is substantially flat;
a skirt adjoining said optical element thereby forming a recessed chamber around said first surface, said recessed chamber having an opening; and
a passageway positioned adjacent to said opening, said passageway in fluid communication with said recessed chamber;
wherein said passageway is adapted for connection in fluid communication with a suction device for creating a partial vacuum in said recessed chamber.
9. A device for reconfiguring the surface of a cornea, said device comprising:
a transparent optical element having a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first surface is shaped to introduce less spherical aberration to a laser beam as said laser beam passes into the reconfigured cornea than is introduced into an identical laser beam passing into a cornea that is not reconfigured;
a skirt adjoining said optical element thereby forming a recessed chamber around said first surface, said recessed chamber having an opening; and
a passageway positioned adjacent to said opening, said passageway in fluid communication with said recessed chamber;
wherein said passageway is adapted for connection in fluid communication with a suction device for creating a partial vacuum in said recessed chamber.
10. A device for reconfiguring the surface of a cornea, said device comprising:
a transparent optical element having a first surface and a second surface, wherein said second surface and first surface are substantially parallel;
a skirt adjoining said optical element thereby forming a recessed chamber around said first surface, said recessed chamber having an opening; and
a passageway positioned adjacent to said opening, said passageway in fluid communication with said recessed chamber;
wherein said passageway is adapted for connection in fluid communication with a suction device for creating a partial vacuum in said recessed chamber.
11. A device for reconfiguring the surface of a cornea, said device comprising:
a transparent optical element having a first surface and a second surface;
a skirt adjoining said optical element thereby forming a recessed chamber around said first surface, said recessed chamber having an opening;
an extension connected to said skirt; and
a passageway positioned adjacent to said opening, said passageway in fluid communication with said recessed chamber;
wherein said passageway is adapted for connection in fluid communication with a suction device for creating a partial vacuum in said recessed chamber.
12. A device as recited in claim 11 , wherein said extension has a sealing surface with a concave curvature.
13. A lens system for reconfiguring a cornea and holding the reconfigured cornea during a laser treatment, said system comprising:
a corneal surface reconfiguring device comprising
a transparent optical element having a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first surface is shaped to reconfigure the surface of the cornea,
a skirt adjoining said optical element thereby forming a recessed chamber around said first surface, said recessed chamber having an opening,
a passageway in fluid communication with said recessed chamber;
a suction device in fluid communication with said passageway; and
a retainer for mounting said reconfiguring device to a laser system.
14. A lens system as recited in claim 13 , wherein said skirt is cylindrical.
15. A lens system as recited in claim 13 , wherein said skirt extends outwardly from the first surface and surrounds said first surface.
16. A lens system as recited in claim 13 , wherein said second surface is substantially flat.
17. A lens system as recited in claim 13 , wherein said first surface is curved.
18. A lens system as recited in claim 13 , wherein said passageway is positioned substantially adjacent to said first surface.
19. A lens system as recited in claim 13 , wherein said suction device generates suction thereby forming a partial vacuum in said recessed chamber.
20. A lens system as recited in claim 13 , further comprising:
a laser source for producing a laser beam, said laser source positioned to pass said laser beam through said optical element.
21. A lens system as recited in claim 13 , further comprising a tube connecting said suction device and said passageway in fluid communication.
22. A lens system as recited in claim 13 , wherein said suction device is a syringe.
23. A lens system as recited in claim 13 , wherein said suction device is a vacuum pump.
24. A lens system for reconfiguring a cornea and holding the reconfigured cornea during a laser treatment, said system comprising:
a corneal surface reconfiguring device comprising
a transparent optical element having a first surface and a second surface,
a skirt adjoining said optical element thereby forming a recessed chamber around said first surface, said recessed chamber having an opening, wherein said skirt has a sealing surface extending into said recessed chamber, wherein said sealing surface is formed of a soft, medical grade plastic,
a passageway in fluid communication with said recessed chamber;
a suction device in fluid communication with said passageway; and
a retainer for mounting said reconfiguring device to a laser system.
25. A lens system for reconfiguring a cornea and holding the reconfigured cornea during a laser treatment, said system comprising:
a corneal surface reconfiguring device comprising
a transparent optical element having a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first surface is substantially flat,
a skirt adjoining said optical element thereby forming a recessed chamber around said first surface, said recessed chamber having an opening,
a passageway in fluid communication with said recessed chamber;
a suction device in fluid communication with said passageway; and
a retainer for mounting said reconfiguring device to a laser system.
26. A lens system for reconfiguring a cornea and holding the reconfigured cornea during a laser treatment, said system comprising:
a corneal surface reconfiguring device comprising
a transparent optical element having a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first surface is shaped to introduce less spherical aberration to said laser beam as said laser beam passes into the reconfigured cornea than is introduced into an identical laser beam passing into a cornea that is not reconfigured,
a skirt adjoining said optical element thereby forming a recessed chamber around said first surface, said recessed chamber having an opening,
a passageway in fluid communication with said recessed chamber;
a suction device in fluid communication with said passageway; and
a retainer for mounting said reconfiguring device to a laser system.
27. A lens system for reconfiguring a cornea and holding the reconfigured cornea during a laser treatment, said system comprising:
a corneal surface reconfiguring device comprising
a transparent optical element having a first surface and a second surface, wherein said second surface and first surface are substantially parallel,
a skirt adjoining said optical element thereby forming a recessed chamber around said first surface, said recessed chamber having an opening,
a passageway in fluid communication with said recessed chamber;
a suction device in fluid communication with said passageway; and
a retainer for mounting said reconfiguring device to a laser system.
28. A lens system for reconfiguring a cornea and holding the reconfigured cornea during a laser treatment, said system comprising:
a corneal surface reconfiguring device comprising
a transparent optical element having a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first surface is substantially flat,
a skirt adjoining said optical element thereby forming a recessed chamber around said first surface, said recessed chamber having an opening,
a passageway in fluid communication with said recessed chamber,
a skirt extension connected to said skirt;
a suction device in fluid communication with said passageway; and
a retainer for mounting said reconfiguring device to a laser system.
29. A lens system as recited in claim 28 , wherein said skirt extension has a sealing surface with a concave curvature.