Ophthalmic Operative Keratometer With Movable Fixation/Centration Device

Abstract

Provided is an operative keratometer consisting of a built-in bright LED ring light, which uniquely provides immediate direct preoperative confirmation to the ophthalmologist of the proper meridian for astigmatic cuts and the most advantageous location of cataract incisions to minimize postoperative astigmatism. Also provided are methods for using the operative keratometer device to facilitate evaluation of the amount and direction of astigmatism in a patient. Further provided is a movable fixation/centration device and methods for its use to focus the operative keratometer, particularly for treating astigmatism, permitting the ophthalmologist to qualitatively assess both the amount and direction of the astigmatism; to more accurately conduct surgery near the pupil by providing a patient fixation point that permits the ophthalmologist to more precisely control movement of the patient's eye during an ophthalmic procedure; and to provide monocular centration of the patient's eye.

1 . An operative keratometer having a ring light, the ring light comprising a built-in series of individual, evenly-spaced, bright LED lights forming a ring around the circumference of the ring light, each individual LED light projecting a point of light from the ring light toward a patient's eye, thereby generating a dotted pattern of reflected light from the ring light on the patient's eye. 
     
     
         2 . A method of using the operative keratometer of  claim 1  to provide immediate, direct operative confirmation of the proper meridian for surgical intervention to correct astigmatism associated with refractive eye surgery, the method comprising:
 viewing the shape of the dotted pattern of reflected light,   comparing the dotted pattern of reflected light to the actual spacing of the individual LED lights in the ring light, wherein an elliptical reflection from an astigmatic eye causes the reflected dots to appear closer together along the short axis and further apart along the long axis of the ellipse, and   determining the amount and direction of the patient's astigmatism based upon the difference in spacing between the dotted pattern of reflected light and the spacing of the individual lights in the ring light.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 comparing a preoperative state of the patient's eye with a postoperative state of the patient's eye during the surgical intervention,   determining placement and degree of a next surgical step based upon the viewed spacing of the reflected dots of light, and   performing successive surgical steps until the viewed reflection of the dotted pattern of lights from the ring light becomes circular.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising providing immediate, direct operative confirmation of correct surgical intervention during cataract surgery. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising minimizing postoperative astigmatism associated with refractive eye surgery.