Method and apparatus for alignment of intracorneal inlay
A method of correcting refractive error in an eye, comprising the steps of marking at least one axis on the surface of the cornea. A portion of the cornea is then separated, forming a first anterior facing surface and a second posterior facing surface. An inlay having at least one axis indicated on the surface thereof is positioned between the first and second surfaces, and the at least one axis on the inlay is aligned with the at least one axis on the surface of the cornea. This results in precise positioning and orientation of the inlay and thus correction of astigmatic error in the cornea.
1 . A method of aligning an intracorneal inlay relative to a cornea for the purpose of correcting refractive error in an eye, comprising the steps of
marking at least one axis on the outer surface of the cornea,
separating a portion of the cornea, forming a first anterior facing surface and a second posterior facing surface,
positioning an inlay having at least one axis indicated on the surface thereof between the first and second surfaces, and
aligning the at least one axis on the inlay with the at least one axis on the surface of the cornea.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein
the marking step includes marking at least five axes on the outer surface of the cornea.
3 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein
the marking step includes marking the outer surface of the cornea with a marking tool having at least five axes thereon.
4 . A method according to claim 3 , wherein
the marking step includes positioning the marking tool adjacent the outer surface of the cornea and marking a line along each of the five axes of the marking tool.
5 . A method according to claims 1 , wherein
the separating step includes separating a portion of the cornea to form a flap thereon, the flap attached to the cornea at an outer peripheral area thereof.
6 . A method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of
pivoting the flap about the area attached to the cornea to expose the first anterior facing surface of the cornea.
7 . A method according to claim 6 , wherein
the positioning step includes positioning an inlay having a removable, pliable sheet overlying the inlay indicating the at least one axis.
8 . A method according to claim 7 , further comprising the steps of
marking the main optical axis of the eye on the outer surface of the cornea prior to marking the at least one axis on the surface of the cornea,
marking the main optical axis of the eye on the first anterior facing surface of the cornea, and
marking the first anterior facing surface of the cornea with at least five axes in about the same orientation as the markings on the surface of the cornea.
9 . A method according to claim 8 , further comprising the steps of
repositioning the flap over the inlay,
aligning the markings on the outer surface of the eye and the marking on the first anterior facing surface with the marking on the removable, pliable sheet, and
removing the removable, pliable sheet overlying the inlay.
10 . A method according to claim 9 , wherein
the positioning step includes positioning an inlay adapted to correct astigmatic error in the eye between the first and second surface.
11 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein
the positioning step includes positioning a ring shaped inlay between the first and second surfaces.
12 . A method according to claim 11 , wherein
the positioning step includes positioning a ring shaped inlay having at least two separable portions between the first and second surfaces.
13 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein
the positioning step includes positioning an inlay adapted to correct astigmatic error in the eye between the first and second surface.
14 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein
the positioning step includes positioning the inlay between the first and second surfaces using a holding tool.
15 . A method of aligning an intracorneal inlay relative to a cornea for the purpose of correcting refractive error in an eye, comprising the steps of
separating a portion of the cornea, forming a first anterior facing surface and a second posterior facing surface,
marking at least one of the first and second surfaces with a first axis,
positioning an inlay having a second axis indicated on the surface thereof between the first and second surfaces, and
aligning the second axis with the first axis.
16 . A method according to claim 15 , further comprising the step of
marking at least four additional axes on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the cornea.
17 . A method according to claim 16 , wherein
the marking step includes marking at least one of the first and second surfaces of the cornea with a marking tool having at least five axes thereon.
18 . A method according to claim 17 , wherein
the marking step includes positioning the marking tool adjacent the first surface of the cornea and marking a line along each of the five axes of the marking tool.
19 . A method according to claims 15 , wherein
the separating step includes separating a portion of the cornea to form a flap thereon, the flap attached to an area of the cornea at the circumference thereof.
20 . A method according to claim 19 , further comprising the step of
pivoting the flap about the area attached to the cornea to expose the first anterior facing surface of the cornea.
21 . A method according to claim 20 , wherein
the positioning step includes positioning an inlay having a removable, pliable sheet overlying the inlay indicating the second axis between the first and second surfaces.
22 . A method according to claim 21 , further comprising the steps of
marking the main optical axis of the eye on the external surface of the cornea,
marking the external surface of the cornea with a third axis in about the same orientation as the markings on the first anterior surface, and
marking the main optical axis of the eye on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the cornea prior to marking the first axis on the at least one of the first and second surfaces of the cornea.
23 . A method according to claim 22 , further comprising the steps of
repositioning the flap over the inlay,
aligning the first axis and the third axis with the second axis, and
removing the pliable sheet overlying the inlay.
24 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein
the positioning step includes positioning an inlay adapted to correct astigmatic error in the eye between the first and second surfaces.
25 . A method according to claim 15 , wherein
the positioning step includes positioning a ring shaped inlay between the first and second surfaces.
26 . A method according to claim 25 , wherein
the positioning step includes positioning a ring shaped inlay having at least two separable portions between the first and second surfaces.
27 . A method according to claim 15 , wherein
the positioning step includes positioning an inlay adapted to correct astigmatic error in the eye between the first and second surface.
28 . (canceled)
29 . (canceled)
30 . (canceled)
31 . (canceled)
32 . (canceled)
33 . A method positioning an inlay on the cornea to correct refractive error in the cornea of the eye, the cornea having a first corneal surface and a second corneal surface, the method comprising the steps of
positioning an inlay having a first surface and a second surface on the first corneal surface, and
positioning a removable, pliable sheet of material directly adjacent the second surface of the inlay, said sheet overlying and conforming to the second surface of the inlay and having markings thereon for accurately positioning the inlay on the first corneal surface.
34 . A method according to claim 33 , further comprising the steps of
separating a portion of the cornea to expose the first and second corneal surfaces and form a flap; and
marking at least one of the first and second corneal surfaces with a first axis.
35 . A method according to claim 34 , further including the step of
aligning the markings on the removable, pliable sheet with the first axis.
36 . A method according to claim 35 , further comprising the step of
removing the removable, pliable sheet.
37 . A method according to claim 36 , further comprising the step of
replacing the flap such that the second corneal surface is immediately adjacent and overlying the second surface of the inlay.