SCANNING LASER TOMOGRAPHY OF THE HUMAN CORNEA

描述（改编自申请人摘要）：计算机地形图 是一种重要的诊断工具， 正常和病理性角膜表面。 目前的工具是 仅能够量化角膜的大面积异常 在中心光学区之外，并且不能获得 不规则角膜的地形测量。 的出现 角膜光消融或整形技术，定量测量 在手术期间和手术后获得的表面质量将是 必要 提高了判断角膜病变的准确性 将需要地形图以确保高质量的眼部护理。 研究人员建议开发一种扫描激光断层扫描仪， 基于共焦扫描激光显微镜的人角膜。 上级 共焦成像的深度分辨率将允许研究者 收集有关地形，表面粗糙度和厚度的信息， 一秒钟内的角膜。 中央3毫米的地形 角膜将被精确地确定。 例如，这可以用于 更好地预测植入眼内的人工晶状体的屈光力 放射状角膜切开术后 由于建议的高灵敏度 技术，角膜的局部测量， 上皮细胞可能允许使用这种技术， 激光手术

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from applicant's abstract): Computerized topography of the human cornea is an essential diagnostic tool for the assessment of the normal and pathologic corneal surface. Current instruments are only capable of quantifying large area abnormalities of the cornea outside the central optical zone, and are incapable of obtaining topographic measurements of irregular corneas. With the emergence of corneal photoablation or reshaping techniques, quantitative measurements of the surface quality achieved during and after surgery will be necessary. A higher accuracy in determining the changes of corneal topography will be required to assure quality eye care. The investigator proposes to develop a scanning laser tomograph for the human cornea based on confocal scanning laser microscopy. The superior depth resolution of confocal imaging will allow the investigator to gather information on topography, surface roughness and thickness of the cornea within one second. The topography of the central 3 mm of the cornea will be precisely determined. This can be used, for example, to better predict the power of intraocular lenses to implant in an eye after radial keratotomy. Due to the high sensitivity of the proposed technique, topographic measurements of corneas denuded of their epithelium might be possible allowing the use of this technique during laser surgery.