Methods for producing epithelial flaps on the cornea and for placement of ocular devices and lenses beneath an epithelial flap or membrane, epithelial delaminating devices, and structures of epithelium and ocular devices and lenses

Abstract

These methods, devices, and structures are useful in the field of ophthalmology; the devices and methods relate variously to separating or lifting corneal epithelium from the eye preferably in a substantially continuous layer, placing a lens or other suitable ocular or medical device beneath the epithelial membrane, and to the resulting structures formed by those procedures. The de-epilthelialization devices generally utilize a non-cutting separator or dissector that is configured to separate the epithelium at a naturally occurring cleavage surface in the eye between the epithelium and the corneal stroma (Bowman's membrane), specifically separating in the region of the lamina lucida. The separator or dissector may have a structure that rolls or vibrates (or both) at that cleavage surface or interface during the dissection step. The separated epithelium may be lifted or peeled from the surface of the eye to form an epithelial flap or a pocket. The epithelium may then be replaced on the cornea after a refractive procedure or after placement of an ocular lens (or other subepithelial device) on the eye. The subepithelial device may comprise a wide variety of synthetic, natural, or composite polymeric materials. The step of replacing epithelial tissue upon the subepithelial device or upon the anterior corneal surface promotes epithelial healing.