Corneal inlay design and methods of correcting vision

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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;   creating a corneal flap and performing a LASIK ablation procedure on a corneal bed;   after performing the LASIK ablation procedure on the corneal bed, implanting the selected corneal inlay on the corneal bed 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 after the flap is repositioned;   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 . A method of ablating corneal tissue to correct for presbyopia, 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 ablation shape that is configured to, once created by ablating corneal tissue, 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;   creating a corneal flap and lifting the corneal flap;   ablating corneal tissue with a laser to create the corneal ablation shape, wherein the corneal ablation shape includes a central region with a thickness that is about 50 microns or less measured from an extension of a shape of a peripheral region of the corneal ablation shape, wherein the corneal ablation shape compensates for epithelial remodeling of the epithelial layer of the cornea in response to ablating the corneal tissue, and wherein the central region with a thickness that is about 50 microns or less measured from an extension of a shape of the peripheral region of the corneal ablation shape is 3 to 7 times the central elevation change; and   replacing the flap after the ablating step, whereby replacing the flap creates the increase in curvature of the central portion for near vision while allowing distance vision peripheral to the central region.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein ablating corneal tissue with a laser to create the corneal ablation shape comprises creating the peripheral region so that it is shaped to correct for myopia. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein ablating corneal tissue with a laser to create the corneal ablation shape comprises creating the peripheral region so that it is shaped to correct for hyperopia. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein ablating corneal tissue with a laser to create the corneal ablation shape comprises creating a peripheral region that does not correct distance vision.