One-card presbyopia systems and related methods

Abstract

Methods and systems for correcting presbyopia using a surgical excimer laser include activating the laser once and transmitting a pre-defined three dimensional ablation profile to treat presbyopia based on the single activating step.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of correcting presbyopia, comprising:
 ablating a cornea of an eye of a patient using a defined three-dimensional multifocal presby ablation profile in response to a single activation of a surgical excimer laser system to treat presbyopia and provide near and distance vision acuity in the same eye.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing the single activation of the surgical excimer laser system using at least one controller that is in communication with the laser system, wherein the at least one controller is configured to provide ablation depth versus distance from a center of a cornea for the defined three dimensional presby ablation profile for respective patients using a defined mathematical equation, and wherein the equation includes a patient input parameter for myopic correction and a patient input parameter for hyperopic correction. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the equation also includes at least one optical zone parameter. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the equation includes first and second optical zone parameters, one for a myopic optical zone and one for a hyperopic optical zone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mathematical equation is derived from a Gumbel-distribution of ablation data comprising empirical ablation depths and distances from a center of a pupil associated with separate predefined myopic and hyperopic ablation profiles. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mathematical equation is derived from a lognormal-distribution of ablation data comprising empirical ablation depths and distances from center of a pupil associated with separate predefined myopic and hyperopic ablation profiles. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the defined presby ablation profile creates a prolate shaped cornea with negative asphericity resulting in a multi-focal cornea and increasing depth of field without reducing distance acuity. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the defined presby ablation profile is for emmetrope presbyopia. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the defined presby ablation profile is a universal ablation profile suitable for treating most emmetrope presbyopic patients without requiring in situ patient-specific adjustments. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting an encrypted data card into a reader associated with the surgical excimer laser system to electronically authorize the surgical excimer laser system to power up a single time to carry out the single activation of the ablating step, then automatically powering down the surgical excimer laser system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising electronically requesting an authorization code for performing a presbyopia treatment from a remote site, then receiving an authorization code that electronically activates the surgical excimer laser system, wherein the surgical excimer laser system comprises or is in communication with a controller, the method further comprising allowing a user to input a patient myopic correction number and a patient hyperopic correction number that is used by the controller to determine ablation depth versus distance from a center of a pupil of the patient for the defined presby ablation and the controller electronically directs the surgical laser system to generate the defined presby three-dimensional profile for the presbyopia treatment. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical excimer laser system is in communication with a remote site, the method further comprising electronically requesting activation of the surgical excimer laser system for performing the presbyopia treatment from the remote site; wherein, upon confirmation of an approved treatment site and payment, the remote site electronically activates the surgical excimer laser system and/or allows the single activation of the ablating step. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical excimer laser system is in communication with a computer interface that allows a remote site to control activation of the surgical excimer laser system via the Internet, and wherein the computer interface controls the number of cumulative activations based on a number of laser-specific or site-specific pre-paid activations. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical excimer laser system is in communication with a computer internet interface that allows a remote site to control activation of the surgical excimer laser system, and wherein the computer interface controls a number of cumulative times the surgical excimer laser system can be activated based on a number of pre-paid presby-specific activations associated with the surgical excimer laser system and/or clinical treatment site. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the card has a higher per activation cost for a respective single activation presbyopic correction than a different encrypted card which has a lower per activation cost but requires two-activations for presbyopic correction. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical excimer laser system is in communication with a computer interface that allows a remote site, via the Internet, to (a) control activation of the surgical excimer laser system and (b) inactivate the surgical excimer laser system based on defined contract rules. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ablating step is carried out using at least one controller that is in communication with the laser system, the at least one controller configured to define ablation depth versus distance from a center of the cornea for the three dimensional presby ablation profile for a respective single activation of the laser system using a parameter for myopic correction having a set of ablation depths versus distances from the center of the cornea and a parameter for hyperopic correction having a set of ablation depths versus distances from the center of the cornea. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one controller comprises a mathematical equation that includes first and second optical zone parameters adjustable for respective patients and/or an eye of a respective patient, one for a myopic optical zone and one for a hyperopic optical zone as the parameters for the myopic and hyperopic correction. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser system comprises a user interface in communication with a controller that allows a user to enter an authorization code that allows or directs the laser system to activate, and wherein the controller instructions comprise a set of ablation depths and distances from a center of the cornea for the presbyopic multi-focal ablation profile using a respective single activation of the laser system is based on: (i) a user's selection of an emmetropic universal 3-D ablation profile output from a menu of different vision correction procedures; or (ii) user input of patient-specific input parameters including an input for myopic vision correction and an input for hyperopic vision correction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser system has or is in communication with a computer interface that allows a remote site to control activation of the laser system via the Internet, and wherein the computer interface controls a cumulative number of single presby-specific activations of the laser system for different patients and/or different eyes of a respective patient based on a number of laser-specific and/or site-specific pre-paid activations.