Devices and methods for the amelioration of ectatic corneal disorders using corneal augmentations derived from corneal tissue are disclosed. The shape of the augmentation is determined using data obtained from mapping of a patient's cornea based on computerized corneal topography and tomography. Factors considered include the maximum keratometry and specific iso-deviation contours. In one embodiment, an augmentation is a corneal inlay, intended for insertion into an intrastromal pocket. In a further embodiment, the augmentation is a corneal onlay, intended to be positioned over a region of the cornea from which the epithelial layer has been removed. The corneal onlay is held in place until the epithelial layer regrows over the augmentation. In a further embodiment, the inlay or onlay augmentation is followed by a post-augmentation, further reshaping of the corneal augmentation. In one embodiment, this further reshaping is photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) surgery.

The present invention relates to an ophthalmic treatment apparatus and a method for controlling same. The ophthalmic treatment apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an image unit for generating an image of the retina area of an eyeball in a horizontal direction with respect to the plane of the focal spot of a therapeutic beam directed by a beam delivery unit; a pattern unit for providing a grid pattern to the retina area so as to correspond to the curvature of the retina area generated by the image unit; and a control unit for controlling the operation of a beam generation unit and the beam delivery unit to radiate the therapeutic beam to the intersection points of the grid pattern on the basis of the grid pattern provided by the pattern unit.

Devices and approaches for activating cross-linking within corneal tissue to stabilize and strengthen the corneal tissue following an eye therapy treatment. A feedback system is provided to acquire measurements and pass feedback information to a controller. The feedback system may include an interferometer system, a corneal polarimetry system, or other configurations for monitoring cross-linking activity within the cornea. The controller is adapted to analyze the feedback information and adjust treatment to the eye based on the information. Aspects of the feedback system may also be used to monitor and diagnose features of the eye. Methods of activating cross-linking according to information provided by a feedback system in order to improve accuracy and safety of a cross-linking therapy are also provided.

A method of re-profiling a cornea of an eye is provided which includes causing ablation energy to be applied across the cornea of the eye and controlling distribution of the ablation energy across the cornea of the eye. The distribution of the ablation energy is controlled by causing the ablation energy to provide an ablation zone, having an optical zone disposed in a central portion of the anterior surface and a transition zone disposed peripherally to the optical zone on an anterior surface of the cornea the ablation zone, and determining a shape of the transition zone by selecting between a cubic spline function and a complementary error function.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides techniques for inducing collagen cross-linking in human tissue, such as cartilage or cornea, without using a photosensitizer (e.g., riboflavin), by inducing ionization of the water contained in the tissue to produce free radicals that induce chemical cross-linking in the human tissue. In an embodiment, a femtosecond laser operates at sufficiently low laser pulse energy to avoid optical breakdown of tissue. In an embodiment, the femtosecond laser operates in the infrared frequency range.

A laser system is calibrated with a tomography system capable of measuring locations of structure within an optically transmissive material such as a tissue of an eye. Alternatively or in combination, the tomography system can be used to track the location of the eye and adjust the treatment in response to one or more of the location or an orientation of the eye. In many embodiments, in situ calibration and tracking of an optically transmissive tissue structure such as an eye can be provided. The optically transmissive material may comprise one or more optically transmissive structures of the eye, or a non-ocular optically transmissive material such as a calibration gel in a container or an optically transmissive material of a machined part.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides techniques for inducing collagen cross-linking in human tissue, such as cartilage or cornea, without using a photosensitizer (e.g., riboflavin), by inducing ionization of the water contained in the tissue to produce free radicals that induce chemical cross-linking in the human tissue. In an embodiment, a femtosecond laser operates at sufficiently low laser pulse energy to avoid optical breakdown of tissue. In an embodiment, the femtosecond laser operates in the infrared frequency range.

The disclosure generally relates to medical systems, devices and methods, and more particularly relates to dispersing heat during energy delivery to a tissue. The device may comprise two layersa first layer which is optically transparent and a second later that may be both optically transparent and heat conductive. One or both of the layers may be configured to absorb energy (e.g., light energy), but together may transmit from about 50% to 99.9% of incident energy to the target tissue. One or both layers may comprise graphene or sapphire. One or both layers may comprise glass or plastic. The two layers may be any combination of glass, graphene, plastic, or sapphire. The two layers may be in physical contact with each other and either directly or indirectly bonded together.

A method of blink detection in a laser eye surgical system includes providing a topography measurement structure having a geometric marker. The method includes bringing the topography measurement structure into a position proximal to an eye such that light traveling from the geometric marker is capable of reflecting off a refractive structure of the eye of the patient, and also detecting the light reflected from the structure of the eye for a predetermined time period while the topography measurement structure is at the proximal position. The method further includes converting the light reflected from the surface of the eye into image data and analyzing the image data to determine whether light reflected from the geometric marker is present is in the reflected light, wherein if the geometric marker is determined not to be present, the patient is identified as having blinked during the predetermined time.

Safety of ophthalmologic laser treatment is improved. A laser treatment apparatus of an embodiment includes: a photographing system that photographs an eye; an irradiation system that irradiates aiming light of a preset pattern and treatment laser light onto a fundus of the eye; an irradiation-pattern determining part that determines an irradiation pattern of the treatment laser light based on a photograph image of the eye acquired by the photographing system and the preset pattern; and a controller that controls the irradiation system so as to irradiate the treatment laser light of the determined irradiation pattern.