KERATOME AND BLADE CHANGER

摘要

A keratome includes a cutting instrument having a cutter head with a reciprocating blade extending below a sole surface of the cutter head, an automated drive unit mounting the cutting instrument for powered translation al movement of at least the cutter head thereof, and a suction ring including a n eye ring adapted to be secured to an eye by suction and defining a cornea aperture for presenting the outer layer of the cornea of the eye for cutting . The suction ring has a shoe from which the eye ring extends, the shoe defini ng a cutting guideway configured for receiving the cutter head advanced by the drive unit in precision mating sliding engagement when the cutting edge of t he blade is positioned over the cornea aperture of the eye ring, and an entranc e guideway extending from and generally aligned with the cutting guideway.