AN APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING OPHTHALMIC SURGERY USING A CONTACT ELEMENT

摘要

Provided is an apparatus for performing ophthalmic surgery that comprises an eye contact element having a small wavefront error. The apparatus comprises a light source configured to generate a light beam having a wavelength between 300 nm and 1900 nm. A focusing lens is provided in optical communication with the light source, the focusing lens configured to focus the light beam into a focused light beam. The contact element is configured to contact an eye to be treated, and comprises a polymer and has a transmission ratio of at least 90% relative to the focused light beam and that is configured to introduce a wavefront error of at most about .lambda./2 to the focused light beam when the focused light beam passes through the contact element. The focusing lens is configured such that the focused light beam has a region of focus within a cornea of the eye, the region of focus having a diameter of 15µm or less. Optical means is provided that is configured to direct the focused light beam having a region of focus with a diameter of 15µm or less repeatedly and successively over a treatment region within the cornea of the eye to form an incision in the cornea. The contact element comprises a material having an index of refraction in the range of 1.500 to 1.550 relative to the focused light beam.