Patent ID: 6019754
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: A61B,A61C,A61F

Abstract:
A method of permanently correcting a person's vision comprising the steps of: resecting a least a portion of a cornea of at least one of said person's eyes to expose an inner layer of said cornea; sculpting said inner layer of said cornea using radiation from a laser beam to produce a desired corneal topography; floating said corneal flap back into position in a sterile solution to ensure said corneal flap interfaces said sculpted inner corneal layer in a correct position and to remove any debris associated with said sculpting step; applying filtered compressed air at a flow rate substantially between zero and 2.5 liters per minute to draw said sterile solution away from the corneal flap/inner corneal layer interface; observing said application of filtered compressed air using a microscope, paying particular attention to a gutter area surrounding said corneal flap intermediate said corneal flap and said person's cornea that remained intact during said method; and terminating said step of drying when said gutter area is observed to be substantially dry.