Patent ID: 7211077

Claim:
A method for removing certain of the cells of the epithelial layer of the cornea prior to performing corneal ablation, comprising: laser ablating certain of the epithelial cells in the epithelial layer of the cornea to form an initial refractive curve in the epithelial layer of the cornea, wherein the initial refractive curve is formed above an area of the cornea that will be ablated during the corrective eye surgery, and wherein a curvature of the refractive curve is approximately −0.75 D to −0.95 D; and laser ablating certain additional epithelial cells in the epithelial layer of the cornea to translate the initial refractive curve downward to define a bed in the epithelial layer of the cornea, wherein the certain additional epithelial cells in the epithelial layer of the cornea are laser ablated until the Bowman's membrane is at least partially exposed.