Therapeutic Applications of 3-D Corneometry

At least fourteen companies are developing new corneal shaping refractive surgery procedures.In addition to these emerging technologies, conventional surgical techniques are also being used tomodify its shape. Three dimensional shape information about the cornea is critical to planing andmonitoring these procedures. Our 3-D Coreometer 20/20 (US patent number 4,761,071) is designedto obtain a three dimensional Cartesian Coordinate (X, Y, and Z data point) surface map of the front ofthe eye. Measurements are based on the principle of chief ray triangulation. Sodium fluorescein isinstilled in the eye, and an excitation wavelength calibrated light pattern is projected onto it. Thefluorescein emission light pattern is imaged, and the location of the calibrated points are used togeometrically determine the shape of the surface from the intersection of the projected chef ray and theimaged chief ray. They obtained equally well from both normal and irregular corneas. Phase I fundingwill be used for preclinical testing of the 3-D Coreometer 20/20 and to provide clinical enhancementsto the software. Phase II funding will be used to conduct clinical outcome testing for therapeuticapplications.