Apparatus for laser surgical ophthalmology

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for laser surgical ophthalmology, comprising a source of pulsed femtosecond laser radiation, components for guiding and focusing the laser radiation onto or into a tissue of an eye to be treated, a control unit controlling the source, which has been set up to switch the source between at least two operating modes with respectively differing radiation properties of the laser radiation, wherein in a first operating mode the radiation properties of the laser radiation are matched to the placement of an incision in the tissue, and in a second operating mode the radiation properties of the laser radiation are matched to a welding or cross-linking of the tissue.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to equipment for ophthalmic laser surgery. Background technique [0002] In refractive eye surgery, interventions are performed on the patient's eye to alter the refractive properties of the eye in order to correct visual defects. In particular, so-called LASIK treatments (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis) are known, in which the surface curvature of the patient's cornea is altered. In this procedure, the first operational step is to make a flat corneal incision. During this process, a small covering disc called a flap is created that is folded upwards to expose the underlying corneal tissue (stroma). In the subsequent part of the LASIK procedure, a laser is used to remove material from the stroma according to a predefined ablation pattern. Afterwards, the flap is folded back and is covered again relatively quickly with the corneal epithelium. [0003] To make the flap incision, a so-called femtosecond laser has been used ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0007] Overall, however, there are currently still a number of drawbacks associated with this migration process

Despite improved and automated cutting techniques and geometries, manual suturing often does not result in a complete and tight closure of the wound, and in addition often causes undesirable astigmatism or other more serious visual impairments

Apart from this, due to the manual handling, the suturing of corneal flaps is relatively time-consuming and requires longer post-operative care, while the results still depend on the manual skills of the operating surgeon

[0008] Alternative treatments such as adhesion by means of chemical additives such as cyanoacrylate adhesives also have inherent disadvantages such as low permanence, poor compatibility and also introduce foreign substances that are incompatible with the human body

In addition, adhesions also require intensive manual labor on the part of the operating surgeon

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