| abstract |
An apparatus and method are provided for simulating a predicted post-operative topography of a cornea of an eye based on a pre-operative topography of the cornea and a proposed laser ablation procedure. A digital data processing system receives data defining a pre-operative topography of the cornea as a function of location and obtains parameters of the proposed laser ablation procedure from which the digital data processing system can determine the amount of cornea expected to be ablated as a function of location on the cornea. Based on the data and the parameters, the digital data processing system produces an output representing a simulated post-operative topography of the cornea as a function of location. The parameters of the proposed laser ablation procedure specify variations in a cut rate of the laser beam (such as data specifying a plurality of laser beam cut rates for each of a corresponding plurality of laser beam pulses, or data specifying relative laser beam energy level or fluence at each of a plurality of points within the laser beam). |