Method, system and algorithm related to treatment planning for vision correction

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for automatically determining various possible treatment plans for correcting a patient's vision through photoablative refractive surgery. Embodiments of the present invention rely on various selected diagnostic inputs about the patient's eye to classify the eye as particularly suitable for processing by several different processing algorithms. The invention further relates to the simultaneous representation of various treatment plans based on selected input data and available treatment algorithms that can be evaluated, modified and finally selected by the surgeon for application to the patient's eye. A system embodiment according to the invention comprises means for receiving diagnostic input data about a patient's vision, for analyzing said input data and deciding on potentially applicable processing algorithms, and for processing said potential available treatment algorithms; and means for displaying a multi-level graphical user interface that facilitates evaluation, modification, and selection of possible treatment plans for correcting the patient's vision. The system is further operatively associated with a storage medium for storing the calculated and selected treatment plan for applying the selected treatment plan to the patient's eye, wherein the treatment plan includes light ablation for the system Executable instructions for the laser component.

Description

field of invention [0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of laser vision correction, and more particularly to methods, systems and algorithms employed to aid in the identification and selection of treatment plans to correct vision in a patient's eye. technical background [0002] While the earliest laser ablation vision corrections were flawed by procedures known as PRK and LASIK, these treatments and more recent methods such as LASEK have evolved in precision and range of application. In the early days, subjectively measured refraction was combined with raw (today's standard) anterior corneal profile measurements to determine treatment ablation based on a subtractive model of the original shape of the cornea produced by a broad-beam, fixed-axis laser beam. Over the past 15 years, more advanced laser technologies have been developed that exploit high-repetition-based small spots based on complex beam-sorting and sequencing calculations to more precisely...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

For example, if three treatment options are available, one optimizes the optic zone but suffers from tissue loss, another improves vision but results in poorer contrast sensitivity in low light, and the third provides a Given the various trade-offs, it becomes immediately apparent that, even outside of the specific treatment options available to the surgeon, there are actually only a few that can be considered

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