TREATMENT APPARATUS FOR CORRECTING A REFRACTIVE ERROR OF AN EYE

Abstract

The invention relates to treatment apparatus (10) for correcting a refractive error of an eye (12) that includes a laser device (14) for separating corneal tissue by means of laser radiation (16); a control device (18) designed to control the laser device (14) to emit the laser radiation (16) for cutting out and/or ablating a volume (24) out of the surface (26) of the cornea (22) of the eye (12) in dependency on a measured pachymetry of the cornea (22) and the refractive error of the eye (12), whereby the cut-out and/or ablated volume (24) in the surface (20) of the cornea (22) results in a shape of a closed ring, a partial ring, a crescent or a crescent shaped closed ring. A method for controlling such an apparatus for correcting a refractive error of an eye, and to a protective mask for an eye are also provided.

Claims

1. A treatment apparatus (10) for correcting a refractive error of an eye (12), comprising: a laser device (14) for separating corneal tissue by means of laser radiation (16); a control device (18) designed to control the laser device (14) to emit the laser radiation (16) for cutting out and/or ablating a volume (24) out of the surface (26) of the cornea (22) of the eye (12) in dependency on a measured pachymetry of the cornea (22) and the refractive error of the eye (12), whereby the cut-out and/or ablated volume (24) in the surface (20) of the cornea (22) results in a shape of a closed ring, a partial ring, a crescent, or a crescent shaped closed ring.

2. The treatment apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the treatment apparatus (10) comprises a pachymeter (26) for measuring the pachymetry of the cornea (22).

3. The treatment apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the treatment apparatus (10) comprises a tonometer for determining an intraocular pressure of the eye (12), whereby the volume (24) to be cut out and/or ablated is determined in dependency on the determined intraocular pressure.

4. The treatment apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the volume (24) to be cut out and/or ablated is determined by an evaluation device (28) of the treatment apparatus (10) in dependency on the measured pachymetry of the cornea (22) and the refractive error of the eye (12).

5. The treatment apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the volume (24) to be cut out and/or ablated is located outside of a pupil (30) area of the eye (12).

6. The treatment apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein the volume (24) to be cut out and/or ablated is located with equidistance to a visual axis of the eye (12) with a cut side of the volume (24) facing the visual axis or with a symmetry axis of the volume (24).

7. A method for controlling a treatment apparatus (10) for correcting a refractive error of an eye (10), comprising the steps of: measuring the pachymetry of the cornea (22) of the eye (12); determining a volume (24) to be cut and/or ablated out of a surface (20) of the cornea (22) of the eye (12) in dependency on the measured pachymetry of the cornea (22) and the refractive error of the eye (12) by means of a laser device (14), whereby the cut-out and/or ablated volume (24) in the surface (20) of the cornea (22) results in a shape of a closed ring, a partial ring, a crescent, or a crescent shaped closed ring.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the volume (24) to be cut out and/or ablated is determined in dependency of a resulting visus of the eye (12) being above a certain threshold visus.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the volume (24) to be cut out and/or ablated is determined in dependency of a resulting tension in the cornea (22) of the eye (12) being below a certain threshold tension.

10. A method for correcting a refractive error of an eye (12) by means of a treatment apparatus (10), comprising the steps of: measuring the pachymetry of the cornea (22) of the eye (12); determining a volume (24) to be cut out and/or ablated out of a surface (20) of the cornea (22) of the eye (12) in dependency on the measured pachymetry of the cornea (22) and the refractive error of the eye (12) by means of a laser device (14), whereby the cut-out and/or ablated volume (24) in the surface (20) of the cornea (22) results in a shape of a closed ring, a partial ring, a crescent, or a crescent shaped closed ring; controlling the laser device (14) by means of a control device (18) to emit laser radiation (16) to cut and/or ablate the volume (24) out of the surface (20) of the cornea (22).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the cut-out and/or ablated volume (24) in the cornea (22) of the eye (12) is closed by means of suturing at least two opposite sides of the cornea (22) which are bordering the cut-out and/or ablated volume (24) together, thus reducing a radius of the cornea (22).

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein a protective mask (40) with an opening (42), whereby the opening (42) corresponds to the shape resulting in the surface (20) of the cornea (22) due to the cut-out and/or ablated volume (24), is placed on the cornea (22) of the eye before the laser radiation (16) is emitted to cut and/or ablate the volume (24) out of the surface (20) of the cornea (22).

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the protective mask (40) for an eye (12) includes at least one opening (42) corresponding to the shape resulting in the surface (20) of the cornea (22) due to the cut-out and/or ablated volume (24).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] The foregoing and further advantages, features and details of the invention are apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of this implication, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows in a schematic view a treatment apparatus for correcting a refractive error of an eye.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows in a schematic view an eye whose refractive error is to be corrected.

[0035] FIGS. 3 to 7 each show in a schematic view a different shape of a volume to be cut out and/or ablated out of the surface of the eye according to FIG. 2 in order to correct its refractive error.

[0036] FIGS. 8 to 9 illustrate in a schematic sectional view of the eye according to FIG. 2 how its refractive error is corrected.

[0037] FIGS. 10 to 17 show several examples of a protective mask for an eye, whereby each example is shown in a schematic top view and in a schematic perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] Specific embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference to the figures. The following detailed description is nearly exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the implication and uses of the invention.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows in a schematic view a treatment apparatus 10 for correcting a refractive error of an eye 12, which is shown in the schematic view of FIG. 2. The treatment apparatus 10 comprises a laser device 14 for separating corneal tissue by means of laser radiation 16. Furthermore, the treatment apparatus 10 comprises a control device 18 designed to control the laser device 14 to emit the laser radiation 16 for cutting out and/or ablating a volume 24 out of the surface 20 of the cornea 22 of the eye 12 in dependency on a measured pachymetry of the cornea 22 and the refractive error of the eye 12, whereby the cut out and/or ablated volume 24 in the surface 20 of the cornea 22 results in a shape of a closed ring, a partial ring, a crescent or a crescent shaped closed ring. Different examples of a shape of the volume 24 to be cut out and/or ablated are shown in each schematic view of the eye 12 according to FIGS. 3 to 7. For example, the control device 18 can control where the laser device 14 cuts out and/or ablates the volume 24 out of the cornea 22 by adjusting an angle of a reflective mirror inside the laser device 14 and/or by adjusting the focal point of the laser radiation 16.

[0040] Furthermore, the treatments apparatus 10 comprises a pachymeter 26 for measuring the pachymetry of the cornea 22. This allows measuring the pachymetry immediately before starting the procedure to cut out and/or ablate the volume 24 out of the cornea 22. The volume 24 to be cut out and/or ablated out of the surface 20 of the cornea 22 is determined by an evaluation device 28 of the treatment apparatus 10 in dependency on the measured pachymetry of the cornea 22 and the refractive error of the eye 12, whereby the refractive error of the eye 12 can also be determined in dependency of the measured pachymetry. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the evaluation device 28 is part of the control device 18. This allows for an automatic surgical procedure by the treatment apparatus 10 that only has to be supervised by a medical specialist.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows the eye 12 in a schematic front view. Within the center of the cornea 22, a pupil 30 is located. The eye 12 shown in FIG. 2 has a degenerative disorder called keratoconus. The degenerative disorder keratoconus leads to unwanted structural changes within the cornea 22, causing it to thin and to change to a more conical shape. This can result in a distortion of vision and reduction of visus. However, the thinning of the cornea 22 results in the eye 12 being very sensitive to surgical procedures. Any surgical operation done on the cornea 22 has to be especially gentle in order to not further damage the cornea 22.

[0042] FIGS. 3 to 7 show several examples of a volume 24 to be cut and/or ablated out of the cornea 22, which are especially gentle for the cornea 22. The volume 24 is always cut out and/or ablated out of the surface 20 of the cornea 22 by the treatment apparatus 10. The cutting of a volume 24 out of the surface 20 of the cornea 22 does not require a minimum thickness of the volume 24. This allows removing an especially small volume 24 from the cornea 22 in order to at least partially correct the refractive error of the eye 12. Furthermore, as not a lenticular shaped volume of the cornea 22 is removed, any removal of corneal tissue is preferably located outside the pupil 30. Due to such a location, sutures and/or scars cannot further distort the vision of the eye 12. The shape of the cornea 22 itself is not changed by the removal of the volume 24, but rather an area of the surface 20 of the cornea 22 is reduced, leading to a flattening of a radius of the eye 12 due to stretching of the remaining corneal surface tissue.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a shape of the removed volume 24 in the surface 20 of the cornea 22 that is a closed ring. This shapes lead to a uniform strain on the cornea 22 and especially allows for a correction of a refractive error without any astigmatism. FIG. 4 shows a volume 24 that is a crescent shaped closed ring. This shape allows correction of astigmatism in the eye 12 and/or to shift its visual axis. Also, this shape of the volume 24 results in a gradual change of a strain, stress and/or tension in the surface 20 of the cornea 22 without any peaks of said strain, stress and/or tension. A peak in stress, tension and/or strain could possibly further damage the cornea 22.

[0044] FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 show a volume 24 that is a crescent. This can also be called a crescent shaped. The smaller the crescent, the smaller the volume 24 removed from the cornea 22. The crescent shape also allows correcting especially complex deformations of the cornea 22. FIG. 5 shows a volume 24 that covers a 270 degree angle along a circumference of the surface 20 of the cornea 22. This angle is indicated by arrow 32. In FIG. 6, the volume 24 only covers an angle of 180 degrees which is indicated by arrow 34. FIG. 7 shows a crescent shaped volume 24 that only covers a 90 degree angle of the surface 20 of the cornea 22, which is indicated by arrow 36.

[0045] FIG. 8 shows in a schematic sectional view of the eye 12, where the volume 24 has been removed from the surface 20 of the cornea 22. The volume 24 has been removed from the surface 20 of the cornea 22 along a circumference of the cornea 22. The volume 24 has been removed by cutting and/or ablating the corneal tissue with the laser radiation 16 emitted by the laser device 14 and afterwards flushing the eye 12 with a saline solution.

[0046] FIG. 9 illustrates in a schematic sectional view of the eye 12 how the surgical procedure has changed the refraction of the eye 12, thus at least partially correcting the refractive error of the eye 12. The openings in the surface 20 of the cornea 22 due to removal of the volume 24 have been sutured closed. After the cornea 22 has been healed, these sutures preferably are removed from the eye 12. The suturing results in the surface 20 of the cornea 22 being stretched in such a way that the cornea 22 is flattened. This decreases a radius of the cornea 22, changing its refraction. The changes have been illustrated in FIG. 9 by the dashed lines. The dashed lines in FIG. 9 show the shape of the eye 12 with its cornea 22 according to FIG. 8, before the cornea 22 has been sutured.

[0047] Furthermore, due to the volume 24 having a crescent shape, the thickest point of the cornea 22 has been shifted to one side of the eye 12. This means the visual axis of the cornea 22 has also been shifted, allowing for correction of more complex refractive errors of the eye 12. This shift is indicated in FIG. 9 by the arrow 38.

[0048] FIG. 10 to FIG. 17 show several examples of a protective mask 40 for the eye 12 during the surgical procedure, whereby each example is shown in a schematic top view and in a schematic perspective view. The mask 40 has an opening 42 corresponding to the shape resulting in the surface 20 of the cornea 22 due to the cut-out and/or ablated volume 24 and is placed on the cornea 22 of the eye 12 before the laser radiation 16 is emitted to cut and/or ablate the volume 24 out of the surface 20 of the cornea 22.

[0049] The opening 42 allows the laser radiation 16 to only cut and/or ablate the cornea 22 in an area of the opening. Where the cornea 22 is covered by the protective mask 40, the emitted laser radiation 16 is unable to cut and/or ablated the cornea 22. Thus, the eye 12 and/or the cornea 22 are protected in this area from an incorrectly aimed laser radiation 16 and/or incorrectly focused laser radiation 16. Furthermore, the laser radiation 16 can be aimed less precisely and/or focused less precisely while still achieving an especially precise cut and/or ablation. Additionally, the mask 40 can prevent any damage to the eye 12 due to unwanted movement of the eye 12 during the procedure.

[0050] The example of the mask 40 as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 has an opening 42 that corresponds to the shape of the removed volume 24 in the surface 20 of the cornea 22 which is a closed ring, as shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the mask 40 comprises two separate parts: an outer ring 44 and an inner disk 46, which are placed separately on the eye 12 and centered to the pupil 30. The opening 42 is constituted by an empty space between the outer ring 44 and the inner disk 46 due to such a placement.

[0051] The example of the mask 40 as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 has an opening 42 that corresponds to the shape of the removed volume 24 in the surface 20 of the cornea 22 which is a crescent shaped closed ring, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0052] The example of the mask 40 as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 has an opening 42 that corresponds to the shape of the removed volume 24 in the surface 20 of the cornea 22 which is a crescent, as shown in FIG. 6. The opening 42 covers an angle of 180 degrees.

[0053] The example of the mask 40 as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 has an opening 42 that corresponds to the shape of the removed volume 24 in the surface 20 of the cornea 22 which is a crescent, as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, the opening 42 covers an angle of 90 degrees.

[0054] The examples of the protective mask 40 according to FIG. 12 to FIG. 17 only comprise one part. However, the protective mask 40 can also comprise two parts like the mask 40 shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The opening 42 can go completely through a body of the protective mask 40 or can only form a kind of recess in an outer surface of the protective mask 40. In the case of the opening 42 going completely through the body of the protective mask 40, any cut-out and/or ablated tissue of the cornea 22 can be removed very easily without needing to remove the protective mask 40. In the case of the opening 42 forming a kind of recess in the outer surface of the protective mask 40, the protective mask 40 is especially comfortable to wear. Also, in this case the protective mask 40 has less sharp corners that are in contact with the cornea 22 of the eye 12.

[0055] Overall the treatment apparatus 10 and the methods presented here are especially suited for correcting the refractive error of an eye 12 with a keratoconus degenerative disorder, as they are especially gentle to the cornea 22. The treatment method can be called crescentic laser assisted keratectomy, which can be abbreviated as CLAK.