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Abstract

An apparatus and method for precisely forming a flap in the live cornea about at least a portion of the circumference of the live cornea, and then, if desired, forming incisions or tissue shrinkage in the live cornea under the flap without removing or ablating any tissue, and without damaging the Bowman's layer, to correct vision disorders in the eye such as astigmatism, myopia, hypertrophic, hyperopia and presbyopia, to name a few. The apparatus and method employ a stabilizing device and a cutting tool. The stabilizing device is adapted to be attached to the front surface of a live cornea to apply suction to the live cornea which prevents the live cornea from moving when the cutting is being performed. The cutting tool can be, for example, a blade, water jet, laser, or any combination thereof, that is directed toward the cornea that is stabilized in the stabilizing device to cut the flap in the cornea, which can be through the front surface of the cornea about at least a portion of the periphery of the cornea, or can be through the front surface of the cornea is a manner similar to the LASIK procedure described above. The blade or laser can further be used to cut differently-shaped incisions under the flap, such as radial incisions, actuate incisions, and so on, as desired, to correct the vision disorder. Also, tools such as a laser, diathermy device, or microwave emitting device can be used, as desired, to create shrinkage under the flap without ablating the tissue or removing any tissue, to further correct vision disorders.

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First Claim