SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESECTING CORNEAL TISSUE

1 . A method of resecting corneal tissue, the method comprising:

determining a resection depth from an anterior surface of a cornea using a corneal biomechanical model; and

making a resection incision for resecting a posterior portion from the cornea, wherein the resection incision is made at the resection depth.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein making the resection incision includes making the resection incision using a surgical laser.

3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

placing a contact lens against the anterior surface, the contact lens being adapted to conform the anterior surface to a shape of the contact lens; and

making the resection incision using a surgical laser.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the contact lens applanates the anterior surface.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the resection depth is selected to minimize surface irregularities at the resection incision.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the resection depth is selected to minimize post-operative weakening of the cornea.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the resection incision is at a uniform distance from one of a posterior surface of the cornea or the anterior surface.

8 . A method of resecting corneal tissue, the method comprising:

determining a resection depth from an anterior surface of a cornea using a biomechanical model of the cornea; and

placing a contact lens against the anterior surface, the contact lens being adapted to conform the anterior surface to a shape of the contact lens; and

making a resection incision for resecting a posterior portion from the cornea, wherein the resection incision is made at the resection depth using a surgical laser, and the resection incision is at a uniform distance from one of a posterior surface of the cornea or the anterior surface.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the contact lens applanates the anterior surface.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the resection depth is selected to minimize surface irregularities at the resection incision.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the resection depth is selected to minimize post-operative weakening of the cornea.

12 . A method of transplanting corneal tissue from a donor cornea to a recipient cornea, the method comprising:

determining a recipient resection depth from a recipient anterior surface of the recipient cornea using a biomechanical model of the recipient cornea;

making a recipient resection incision for resecting a recipient posterior portion from the recipient cornea, wherein the recipient resection incision is made at the recipient resection depth;

making a donor resection incision for resecting a donor posterior portion from the donor cornea; and

grafting the donor posterior portion into the recipient cornea.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the recipient resection incision or the donor resection incision is made using a surgical laser.

14 . The method of claim 12 further comprising:

placing a contact lens against the recipient anterior surface, the contact lens being adapted to conform the recipient anterior surface to a shape of the contact lens; and

making the recipient resection incision using a surgical laser.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the contact lens applanates the recipient anterior surface.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the recipient resection depth is determined to minimize surface irregularities at the recipient resection incision.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the recipient resection depth is determined to minimize post-operative weakening of the recipient cornea.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the recipient resection incision is at a uniform distance from one of a recipient posterior surface of the recipient cornea or a recipient anterior surface.

19 . The method of claim 12 further comprising:

determining a ratio of the recipient resection depth to a recipient thickness of the recipient cornea; and

making the donor resection incision at a donor resection depth from a donor anterior surface of the donor cornea, wherein the donor resection depth, as compared to a donor thickness of the donor cornea, is determined by the ratio.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the donor resection incision is at a uniform distance from one of the donor posterior surface or a donor anterior surface of the recipient cornea.

21 . A system for resecting corneal tissue, the system comprising:

an interface programmed with a biomechanical model of corneal tissue, the interface being adapted to provide a depth range using the biomechanical model for selection of a resection depth from an anterior corneal surface;

a surgical laser adapted to emit a pulsed laser beam;

a focusing assembly adapted to focus the pulsed laser beam into a cornea;

a controller adapted to receive the resection depth from the interface, to move a focal point of the pulsed laser beam within a cornea using the focusing assembly, and to direct the focal point of the pulsed laser beam to make a resection incision for resecting a portion of the cornea, wherein the resection incision is made at the resection depth.

22 . The system of claim 21 further comprising:

a contact lens adapted to be placed against the anterior surface and conform the anterior surface to a shape of the contact lens, wherein the biomechanical model accounts for deformation of the cornea.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the contact lens applanates the anterior surface.

24 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the depth range is provided to minimize surface irregularities at the resection incision.

25 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the depth range is provided to minimize post-operative weakening of the cornea.

26 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the resection incision is at a uniform distance from one of a posterior surface of the cornea or the anterior surface.

27 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the controller is adapted to make the resection incision for resecting a posterior portion of the cornea