Corneal inlay design and methods of correcting vision
Methods of designing corneal implants, such as inlays, to compensate for a corneal response, such as epithelial remodeling of the epithelial layer, to the presence of the implant. Additionally, methods of performing alternative corneal vision correction procedures to compensate for an epithelial response to the procedure. Methods of compensating for a corneal response when performing a vision correction procedure to create a center near region of the cornea for near vision while providing distance vision peripheral to the central near zone.
1. A method of correcting vision, comprising:
determining a post-operative shape of an anterior surface of a cornea, the post-operative shape defining a post-operative central elevation change of a central portion of the anterior surface of the cornea;
selecting a corneal inlay that will, upon implantation, increase a curvature of the central portion of the anterior surface of the cornea to obtain the post-operative shape and the post-operative central elevation change;
wherein the central thickness of the selected corneal inlay is about 50 microns or less;
implanting the selected corneal inlay within the cornea to thereby increase the curvature of the central portion of the anterior surface of the cornea and to thereby alter the cornea to have the post-operative shape and the post-operative central elevation change;
wherein the determining step occurs prior to the implanting step; and
wherein the step of selecting the corneal inlay comprises selecting a corneal inlay with a central thickness that is 3 to 7 times the central elevation change.
2. The method of correcting vision of claim 1 , wherein implanting the selected corneal inlay within the cornea to thereby increase the curvature of the central portion of the anterior surface of the cornea increases the curvature of the central portion of the anterior surface of the cornea to provide near vision while providing distance vision in a region of the cornea peripheral to the central portion.