<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.16




                          AMENDMENT OF PROMISSORY NOTE



     This Amendment of Promissory Note is made as of January 13, 1998, between
KeraVision, Inc. (the "COMPANY") and Darlene Crockett-Billig (the "PURCHASER").

     The Promissory Note ("NOTE") executed by the Purchaser on January 13, 1996,
under which the Purchaser promised to pay to the Company $2,597.47+, plus
interest, on or before January 13, 1998, is hereby amended as follows:

     (1) The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree that the interest due with
respect to the Note as of the date hereof is $170.99, which amount is hereby
added to the original principal amount of the Note, so that the principal as of
the date hereof is $2,799.02.

     (2) The due date of all principal and interest under the Note is hereby
extended to January 13, 2000.

     (3) The interest rate of the Note changes as of this Amendment Date from
the original  5.43% per annum, compounded semi-annually, to 5.62% per annum,
compounded semi-annually.

KERAVISION, INC.                   DARLENE CROCKETT-BILLIG


/s/ Mark Fischer-Colbrie           /s/ Darlene Crockett-Billig
-----------------------------      -----------------------------------
Signature                          Signature


By:   Mark Fischer-Colbrie
    -------------------------
      Print Name

Title:   V.P. Finance & Administration
         -----------------------------




--------------
+  The original amount of the Note was $7,179.20, however, on October 24, 1996,
the Company forgave $4,889.00 of the principal owing on the Note thus reducing
the total amount due (including accrued interest) to $2,597.47 as of that date.
<PAGE>

                          AMENDMENT OF PROMISSORY NOTE



     This Amendment of Promissory Note is made as of August 1, 1997, between
KeraVision, Inc. (the "COMPANY") and Darlene Crockett-Billig (the "PURCHASER").

     The Promissory Note ("NOTE") executed by the Purchaser on September 26,
1995, under which the Purchaser promised to pay to the Company $36,635.63, plus
interest, on or before September 26, 1997, is hereby amended as follows:

     (1) The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree that the interest due with
respect to the Note as of the date hereof is $4,087.23, which amount is hereby
added to the original principal amount of the Note, so that the principal as of
the date hereof is $40,722.86.

     (2) The due date of all principal and interest under the Note is hereby
extended to August 1, 1999.

     (3) The interest rate of the Note changes as of this Amendment Date from
the original  5.83% per annum, compounded semi-annually, to 5.79% per annum,
compounded semi-annually.



KERAVISION, INC.                  DARLENE CROCKETT-BILLIG


/s/ Mark Fischer-Colbrie          /s/ Darlene Crockett-Billig
--------------------------        ---------------------------------
Signature                         Signature


By: Mark Fischer-Colbrie
    --------------------
     Print Name

Title:   V.P. Finance & Administration
         -----------------------------
<PAGE>

                          AMENDMENT OF PROMISSORY NOTE



     This Amendment of Promissory Note is made as of August 1, 1997, between
KeraVision, Inc. (the "COMPANY") and Darlene Crockett-Billig (the "PURCHASER").

     The Promissory Note ("NOTE") executed by the Purchaser on November 7, 1993,
under which the Purchaser promised to pay to the Company $75,000.00, plus
interest, on or before October 21, 1997, is hereby amended as follows:

     (1) The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree that the interest due with
respect to the Note as of the date hereof is $14,649.52, which amount is hereby
added to the original principal amount of the Note, so that the principal as of
the date hereof is $89,649.52.

     (2) The due date of all principal and interest under the Note is hereby
extended to August 1, 1999.

     (3) The interest rate of the Note changes as of this Amendment Date from
the original  4.86% per annum, compounded semi-annually, to 5.79% per annum,
compounded semi-annually.



KERAVISION, INC.                  DARLENE CROCKETT-BILLIG


/s/ Mark Fischer-Colbrie          /s/ Darlene Crockett-Billig
--------------------------        -------------------------------
Signature                         Signature


By: Mark Fischer-Colbrie
    ----------------------
     Print Name

Title:   V.P. Finance & Administration
         -----------------------------