SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CORNEAL CROSS-LINKING WITH PULSED LIGHT
Systems and methods for treating an eye select locations for making incisions in areas of the cornea according to astigmatic keratotomy or radial keratotomy, make incisions in the selected areas of the cornea, apply a cross-linking agent to the selected areas of the cornea, and deliver photoactivating light from a light source to the selected areas of the cornea to initiate cross-linking activity in the selected areas of the cornea.
1 . A system for treating an eye, comprising:
a cutting instrument configured to make incisions in selected areas of the cornea;
a cross-linking treatment system, the cross-linking treatment system including an applicator that applies a cross-linking agent to the selected areas of the cornea, a light source that provides photoactivating light for the cross-linking agent, and one or more optical elements that deliver the photoactivating light to the selected areas of the cornea, the photoactivating light acting on the cross-linking agent to initiate cross-linking activity in the selected areas of the cornea; and
one or more controllers that determine the selected areas of the cornea for the incisions according to astigmatic keratotomy or radial keratotomy.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cutting instrument includes a femtosecond laser.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the applicator includes a needle configured to apply the cross-linking agent to the incisions.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cross-linking agent includes Riboflavin and the photoactivating light is ultraviolet light.
5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring system that provides feedback to the one or more controllers on the incisions made by the cutting instrument and the
6 . A method for treating an eye, comprising:
selecting locations for making incisions in areas of the cornea according to astigmatic keratotomy or radial keratotomy;
making, with a cutting instrument, incisions in the selected areas of the cornea;
applying, with an applicator, a cross-linking agent to the selected areas of the cornea; and
delivering, with one or more optical elements, photoactivating light from a light source to the selected areas of the cornea to initiate cross-linking activity in the selected areas of the cornea.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the cutting instrument includes a femtosecond laser.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the applicator includes a needle configured to apply the cross-linking agent to the incisions.
9 . The method of claim 6 wherein the cross-linking agent includes Riboflavin and the photoactivating light is ultraviolet light.