in carrying out the present invention according to a preferred embodiment thereof , the refractive error of the eye to be corrected is determined using a refractometer 10 in the usual manner . the existing curvature of the cornea is ascertained as customary by the use of kerotometry 12 . the refractive error and curvature data are entered into a preprogrammed computer 14 which calculates and presents an output representing the requisite number , lengths , depths and relative positions of laser - generated incisions required to correct the corneal curvature . typically , this pattern will comprise sixteen radial spokes , and will have an outside diameter of about 12 mm . and be toroidal with an inner diameter of about 5 mm ., centered on the cornea . the epithelium layer of the cornea is then debrided ( leaving bowmans membrane intact ) using 20 % cocaine in saline solution applied manually on a cotton - tipped stick applicator . riboflavin dye is then applied to the cornea in bands or spokes according to the previously calculated pattern using an air jet hypodermic injection nozzle 18 . the dye penetrates through bowmans layer and into the stroma to form therein a pigmented centerless starburst of colored bands or spokes 20 according to the pattern precalculated by the computer 14 . the colored bands or spokes embedded in the cornea are thereupon vaporized by exposure to light from an argon laser 21 adjusted to deliver monochromatic light at a frequency maximally absorbed by the riboflavin , with essentially no injury to other tissues of the eye outside of the cornea . the laser light is applied through a slitted diaphragm 22 having a pattern of slits corresponding to and aligned with the pattern calculated by the computer and used previously in the application of the riboflavin dye . thus , the dye and the dye - vaporizing light energy are applied to the cornea according to a single , previously calculated pattern , to generate in the cornea sixteen radially disposed scars corresponding to that pattern . alternatively to the use of a slitted diaphragm , fiber optics may be used to deliver laser light to a housing in the shape of a contact lens having a patterned screen in direct contact with the cornea . following generation of the desired scar pattern in the cornea as described , antibiotic ointment is applied thereto and the eye is patched until the epithelium regenerates , typically a period of 48 - 72 hours , thereby establishing a healthy cornea correctively recurved to reduce both myopia and astigmatism . in an alternate procedure , riboflavin dye is applied as a toroidal design covering the entire cornea with the exception of a 4 mm . diameter central opening centered on the pupil , and laser energy is applied thereto according to the aforesaid calculated design to generate the appropriate scar tissue . unvaporized riboflavin fades and disperses over the normal course within a period of a few days . although riboflavins are the preferred color bodies for use in carrying out the present invention , other color bodies , preferably of a transient nature when applied to the cornea , may also be employed , e . g ., red corpuscles recovered from the blood of the person undergoing corneal recurvature . similarly , although laser energy is preferred for use as an energy source in that a wavelength may be selected which is maximally absorbed by the color body applied to the cornea , other monochromatic , filtered , or broad spectrum sources ( such as an electric arc ) may likewise be employed for the purpose .
the cornea of an eye is recurved by disposing therein light - absorbing color bodies and thereafter vaporizing such color bodies according to a pre - selected design to form corneal - recurving scars .