System and method for treating an eye

Abstract

Apparatus for medical treatment includes a laser source, which is configured to output a beam of laser radiation. An optical device is configured to direct the laser radiation to impinge on a limbal area of an eye with optical properties chosen so as to apply a desired treatment to a tissue structure associated with a cornea of the eye within the limbal area.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to medical devices, and in particular to such devices for use in ophthalmology.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following documents are considered to be relevant for an understanding of the background of the invention:

Barkana, Y and Belkin M., Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, Survey of Ophthalmology 52:634-653, 2007.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,886 to Pollack et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,222 to Volk.

Under normal circumstances, aqueous humor is secreted into the posterior chamber of the eye, and then circulates through the pupil into the anterior chamber where it passes through the trabecular meshwork, before being secreted from the eye. In most forms of glaucoma, the flow of the aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork is 15 impeded, preventing adequate drainage of the aqueous humor from the eye. This leads to a rise in the intraocular pressure, a state which may cause damage to the eye and lead to progressive blindness. One method to treat or prevent this from occurring is to alter some of the trabecular meshwork in order to improve the flow of aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork.

A common method of enhancing the flow of aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork is laser trabeculoplasty (LTP) which consists of the application of laser energy to the trabecular meshwork. There are a several types of LTP, such as selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT), diode laser trabeculoplasty (DLT), micropulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT), and titanium: sapphire laser trabeculoplasty (TLT). The various types of LTP differ in the wavelength and other characteristics of the laser beam. SLT, for example, utilizes a Q-switched 532 Nd:YAG laser which selectively targets melanin-containing cells within the trabecular meshwork. (Barkana, Y et al) While the entire mechanism of action has not been completely elucidated, it is believed that laser-stimulated melanin-containing cells release cytokines which attract other cell types to the trabecular meshwork that increase its permeability.

Unlike older versions of LTP, such as ALT, selective laser trabeculoplasty does not require precise targeting since the wavelength and energy of the light used selectively targets cells which absorb the energy of its wavelength such as the melanin-containing cells within the meshwork. The surrounding cells are not heated or destroyed. Thus, the fluid outflow is improved without damaging the trabecular meshwork. SLT has been used to treat primary open angle glaucoma, intraocular hypertension, normal tension glaucoma, aphakic (glaucoma in patients without a natural lens in their eye), pseudophakic glaucoma (glaucoma in patients without an artificial lens in their eye pigmentary, chronic angle closure glaucoma and juvenile glaucoma. SLT has also been successfully used to treat pressure increases in the eye caused by certain medications.

FIG. 1 shows the treatment of an eye 1 by LTP. Eye drops are first placed in the eye to provide surface anesthesia and to prepare the eye for the procedure. The trabecular meshwork 10 is situated around the angle of the anterior chamber of the eye and is not directly observable because it is obscured by the limbal area 12. A gonioscopic contact lens 2 which includes a mirror 3 is applied to the eye 1 to direct a laser beam 6 through the cornea 5 to the trabecular meshwork 10 underneath the limbal area 12. Typically, between 180° to 360° of the anterior chamber angle is irradiated by rotating the gonioscopic contact lens 12 after each laser pulse. About 100 laser pulses of a few nanoseconds duration and about 0.6 to 200 mJ of energy are delivered to the trabecular meshwork.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,222 to Volk discloses a gonioscopic lens system comprising at least two lenses. At least one of the lenses includes an aspheric surface of revolution. The lenses are positioned adjacent one another in a housing, such that the refractive properties of each are combined to converge light from an illumination light source to the entrance pupil of the patient's eye to illuminate the fundus. The lens system is designed for use with an associated ophthalmoscopic lens, enabling selective modification of the optical characteristics of the ophthalmoscopic lens system in a predetermined manner.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,886 to Pollack et al discloses an iridotomy and trabeculoplasty goniolaser lens having a contact lens element, a planar mirror offset from the optical axis of the contact lens element and first and second button lenses mounted on the anterior surface of the contact lens element. Magnification, curvature and location of the button lenses are chosen so as to provide the ability to simultaneously deliver laser energy to the iris of a patient's eye along a first optical path offset from the optical axis of the contact lens element and to view the trabecular meshwork around the region where the laser energy was applied.

Irradiating the trabecular meshwork with a laser beam directed through the cornea, as shown in FIG. 1, is often not possible in cases of narrow or closed angle glaucoma which occurs when the iris of the eye approaches the cornea and thus narrows or eliminates the angle between the cornea and the iris. This is the most common type of glaucoma in Chinese and Indian people and hence the commonest form of glaucoma and blindness in the world. In these cases, the laser beam cannot reach the trabecular meshwork to be irradiated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention that are described herein provide systems and methods for treatment of the eye using laser radiation.

There is therefore provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, apparatus for medical treatment, including: a laser source, which is configured to output a beam of laser radiation. An optical device is configured to direct the laser radiation to impinge on a limbal area of an eye with optical properties chosen so as to apply a desired treatment to a tissue structure associated with a cornea of the eye within the limbal area.

In a disclosed embodiment, the optical device is configured to scan the beam over at least a part of the limbal area without making any contact with the eye.

In one embodiment, the optical properties are chosen so as to irradiate a trabecular meshwork beneath the cornea with an intensity sufficient to reduce an intraocular pressure in the eye.

Additionally or alternatively, the optical properties are chosen so as to stimulate stem cells associated with the cornea, such as the stem cells associated with a stroma, an endothelium, and/or an epithelium of the cornea.

Further additionally or alternatively, the optical properties are chosen so as to irradiate an epithelium of the cornea in order to treat a condition of dry eye.

There is also provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a method for medical treatment, which includes providing a laser source, which is configured to output a beam of laser radiation. An optical device, including one or more optical elements, is applied to direct the laser radiation to impinge on a limbal area of an eye with optical properties chosen so as to apply a desired treatment to a tissue structure associated with a cornea of the eye within the limbal area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the beam path in SLT using a gonioscopy contact lens;

FIG. 2 shows a device for directing electromagnetic radiation to one or more regions of a limbal area of an eye having a circular array of spaced-apart apertures, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a device for directing electromagnetic radiation to one or more regions of a limbal area of an eye having an array of arc shaped apertures, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a device for directing electromagnetic radiation to one or more regions of a limbal area of an eye having a circular array of apertures, where the array is rotatable;

FIG. 5 shows a device for directing electromagnetic radiation to one or more regions of a limbal area of an eye that includes one or more optic fibers arranged in a cylinder; and

FIGS. 6A and 6B show systems for delivering electromagnetic radiation to a limbal area of an eye in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Some embodiments of the present invention provide optical devices for directing a treatment beam (or possibly multiple beams) of electromagnetic radiation to one or more regions located in the limbal area of an eye. The treatment beam typically comprises laser radiation, output by a laser source, which may be in the visible and/or the near infrared (NIR) range. The optical devices comprise beam-shaping and scanning devices that are configured and operated to direct the treatment beam to impinge on the limbal area. The beam is typically pulsed or otherwise modulated, with optical characteristics of the beam, such as the pulse power, duration and focal properties, chosen to apply a desired treatment to tissue structures associated with the cornea within the limbal area, i.e., tissues on, in and/or beneath the cornea in this area.

When the laser emits a therapeutic beam in the NIR, the device may also be configured for directing a visible aiming (guiding) beam (i.e., visible to the system or to the operator of the system), which may be continuous or modulated, towards the patient's eye. The configuration is such that the aiming beam creates an illuminated pattern on the eye defining a boundary substantially matching the limbal area, thus enabling the treatment beam(s) to be incident onto the region(s) of the limbal area. The aiming beam allows a physician to control the correct location of the illuminated pattern and accordingly to match between its boundary and the limbal area of the eye.

In some of these embodiments, the beam shaping device comprises a thin substantially circular (e.g. circular or oval-like) plate having one aperture or an array of apertures that are arranged in a spaced apart relationship along the peripheral region of the plate to overly locations around the limbal area. The apertures may have, for example, a circular cross section or an arched shape. It should be understood that apertures actually present optical windows which may be implemented as holes/perforations or regions of a desirably transmitting material. Thus apertures, having circular or arched cross-section, are transparent to electromagnetic radiation of the treatment beams of interest and allow them to pass through, while the rest of the plate is opaque to these beams. The plate with one or more apertures may be rotatable so that each aperture/transparent region can be positioned over different locations of the scleral limbus while scanning the limbal area. Alternatively, the plate may have a ring-like aperture along the periphery of the plate, in which case the treatment beam has an annular shape.

As indicated above, the plate in the regions outside the aperture(s) is opaque for the electromagnetic radiation of the treatment beam(s). As for the electromagnetic radiation of the aiming beam (i.e. visual spectrum), the configuration may be such that the plate is transparent for this radiation, thus illuminating a circular spot with its outer boundary substantially coinciding with the limbal area, i.e. being of a slightly larger diameter such that the periphery region of the plate in which the aperture(s) is/are located is aligned with the limbal area.

Alternatively, the plate in the regions outside the aperture(s) may be opaque for visual spectrum as well. In this case the aiming beam has either equal or larger diameter as compared to that of the plate and illuminates a ring-like region on the eye in the form of a circular array of small spots corresponding to the array of apertures, where the diameter of the ring-like region (or at least an inner diameter thereof) substantially coincides with the limbal area. As for the treatment radiation, it may also be in the form of a beam directed along the same optical path as the aiming beam, i.e. directed towards the illuminated pattern created by the aiming beam upon identifying that the pattern surrounds the limbal area (e.g. by manipulating the plate location and accordingly the aiming beam propagation axis).

In some embodiments, the device does not contact the eye being treated, but rather is configured to be held a predetermined distance away from the eye. The device may thus apply therapeutic radiation to the area of the limbus without bringing any part of the device or any other foreign object into contact with the eye.

In another of its aspects, the invention provides a system for treating an eye. The system of the invention includes an illumination unit including first and second sources of electromagnetic radiation producing first and second beams having first and second optical properties for respectively treating and beam aiming purposes. Also provided in the system is the above-described beam shaping device for accommodating in an optical path of the first and second beams for directing the aiming beam so as to align it with the limbus and direct the treatment beam to one or more regions along the circumference of the limbal area as “marked” by the aiming beam. The electromagnetic radiation may have a wavelength in the visible spectrum and in the near infrared spectrum between 514 and 850 nm, for example using a 532 nm Nd:YAG laser. Embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide remarkably short duration of the treatment procedure. The treatment performed by the techniques described herein can take less than a second to complete while having an immediate and long lasting effect. Alternatively, longer treatment durations can be applied, depending on therapeutic indications and system capabilities. The treatment beam may be quickly and precisely delivered to the treatment area, and this condition may be accurately maintained during the treatment, thus allowing the treatment to be quick and with the desirably high light intensity and energy as regions outside the treatment area are prevented from being reached by the treatment beam. In other embodiments, active eye tracking is used to maintain alignment of the laser with the target.

Some embodiments of the present invention may be used in the treatment of glaucoma, including both open-angle and narrow or closed-angle glaucoma. In these embodiments, as described in greater detail hereinbelow, the laser radiation penetrates through the limbal area to irradiate the trabecular meshwork of the eye with sufficient power to improve the flow of aqueous humor and thus reduce intraocular pressure.

Alternatively, however, the laser beam parameters may be chosen to treat other conditions of the corneal layers and tissue structures in the limbal area of the eye. For example, in some embodiments, the laser source and beam-shaping or scanning optics are configured for treatment of dry eye and other conditions resulting from deficiencies of the limbal epithelial cells. The treatment in such embodiments is believed to be associated with stimulation of corneal stem cells by low-level laser therapy; but the treatment is effective regardless of the actual underlying biological mechanism. Treatment of the corneal epithelium may use lower laser power levels than treatment of interior structures, such as the trabecular meshwork. Additionally or alternatively, the laser beam parameters may be chosen so as to stimulate stem cells in the corneal stroma and/or endothelium.

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically the beam path in the conventional SLT using a gonioscopy contact lens.

The following are several examples of a device of the present invention for crating structured treatment light shaped for interacting with multiple regions along a limbal area of an eye, while being guided towards the regions of the limbal area by aiming light of a different spectral range. These examples utilize masking of the light propagation path and/or optical light directing elements.

Reference is made to FIG. 2 which shows an example of a device 20 of the present invention for directing electromagnetic radiation to one or more regions of a limbal area of an eye. The device 20 includes a thin plate 21 that may be a circular disk (or generally “substantially circular” or “circular-like” disk). The plate 21 is provided with at least one aperture (generally, an optical window), a plurality of such small apertures 22 are exemplified in FIG. 2 that may have a circular cross section. In this non-limiting example, the plate 21 is formed from an opaque material such as metal. The apertures 22 are in the form of through-going openings that pass through the plate 21 from an upper surface 23 to a bottom surface 25. It should be noted that the apertures 22 may be equivalently substituted by regions in the plate that are made from material which is transparent to the beam in use. Thus, electromagnetic radiation incident onto the plate will transverse the plate only at the apertures 22. The apertures 22 are arranged in a circular array, i.e. are arranged in a spaced-apart relationship along a circular path, along a periphery region of the plate 21 such that when the device is in operation the apertures overly/are aligned with the sclera limbus of an eye being treated. The circular array of apertures may have a diameter in the range from 11 to 13 mm, which is the typical diameter of the sclera limbus. The plate 21 may have as many as 200 apertures (equally) spaced along the peripheral circumference of the plate 21, so that 200 spots in the sclera limbus can be treated simultaneously.

The beams that interact with the sclera limbus through the apertures are treatment beams, which are of a NIR wavelength range. In order to direct the treatment beams to the regions of the sclera limbus, an aiming/guiding beam is used. This aiming beam is of a wavelength in the visual spectrum, having smaller intensity (reduced-energy) as compared to the treatment beam and serves only for properly aiming the treatment beam. The aiming beam is shaped to draw the path along the limbus. Considering the use of the opaque plate as described in the present example, the plate has a diameter corresponding to that of the eye region enclosed by the limbus, and the aiming beam has a cross-section (diameter) substantially of the diameter of the plate thus illuminating an array of small spots through the apertures in the plate 21. By appropriately manipulating the plate position, this array of spots can be aligned with the regions along the whole circumference of the limbus. When the operator sees the aiming beam positioned properly, he activates the treatment illumination. The latter may utilize a single beam which when interacting with the aperture plate becomes split into an array of narrow beams passing through the apertures to the limbus regions; or alternatively the treatment beam may be initially split into an array of beams supplied to the plate by an array of optical fibers. The desired treatment may be achieved by treating discrete regions of the limbus, or if needed the plate may be rotated thus treating the entire lumbus by scanning.

FIG. 3 shows a device 24 for directing electromagnetic radiation to one or more regions of a limbal area of an eye in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The device 24 is generally similar to that of FIG. 2 but with a somewhat different pattern of apertures/optical windows. The device 24 thus comprises a thin plate 26 that may be a circular disk. The plate 26 is provided with a plurality of small apertures 28 which in the present example have the shape of circular arcs. The plate 26 is formed from an opaque material (such as metal) for both treatment and aiming radiation spectra. The apertures 28 pass through the plate 26 from an upper surface 27 to a bottom surface 29. Thus, electromagnetic radiation directed to the plate 26 will transverse the plate only at the apertures 28. The apertures 28 are arranged in a circular array so as to overly the sclera limbus of an eye being treated. The part of the disk 26 defined by the circular path where the apertures are located (periphery region of the disk) may have a diameter in the range from 11 to 13 mm, which is the typical diameter of the sclera limbus. Again, the apertures 28 may be equivalently substituted by regions in the plate that are made from material which is transparent to the beam in use. It should be understood that the aiming beam may be configured and directed as described above with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a device 30 for directing electromagnetic radiation to one or more regions of a limbal area of an eye in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. The device 30 comprises a circular disk/plate 32 that is mounted for rotation in a circular hole in a thin plate 34. The disk 32 is provided with a pattern formed by a plurality of small apertures 36. The plate 32 may have any pattern of apertures, e.g. that of FIG. 2 or 3, or may have a single aperture e.g. of a circular cross section. In the present not limiting example, an array of fours spaced apart circular apertures is shown. The disk 32 is formed from an opaque material such as metal. The apertures 36 pass through the disk 32 from an upper surface 35 to a bottom surface. Thus, electromagnetic radiation directed to the circular disk 32 will transverse the plate only at the apertures 36. The apertures 36 are arranged along a circle to overly the sclera limbus of an eye being treated. The circular array of apertures is located at the periphery of the disk 32 that may have a diameter in the range from 11 to 13 mm, which is the typical diameter of the sclera limbus. The apertures 36 may be equivalently substituted by regions in the plate that are made from material which is transparent to the beam in use. In use, the disk 32 may be rotated with a rotation rate corresponding to that of the pulses of electro-magnetic radiation to deliver the radiation to a number of spots in the sclera limbus that is significantly greater than the number of apertures in the disk. It should be understood that the aiming beam may be configured and directed as described above with reference to FIG. 2.

It should be noted that in any of the above-described examples, the aperture disk/plate may be made of a material transparent for visual spectrum. In this case, the aiming beam may have a diameter substantially equal to or slightly larger than that of the disk, and would illuminate a spot, the boundary of which substantially coincides with the limbus circumference.

FIG. 5 shows a device 40 for directing electromagnetic radiation to one or more regions of a limbal area of an eye in accordance with still another embodiment of the invention. In the present example, no aperture disk is used but rather the device 40 includes a block 42 of an opaque material shown in phantom drawing in FIG. 5. The block 32 has a first face 44 and an oppositely situated second face 46. One or more optic fibers 48 are located inside the block and extend from the first face 44 to the second face 46. Thus, electromagnetic radiation directed to the first face 44 will be split into spatially separated beams that transverse the block 42 only along the optic fibers 48. The cross-sectional dimension (diameter) of the block is slightly larger than the limbus area, while the ends of the optic fibers 48 at the output face 46 of the block are arranged in a circular array along a path substantially corresponding to the diameter of the limbus so that the ends of the optic fibers 48 in the second face 46 overly the sclera limbus of an eye being treated. The circular path formed by the ends of the optic fibers 48 at the output face 46 may have a diameter in the range from 11 to 13 mm, which is the typical diameter of the sclera limbus.

It should be understood that, according to the invention, each one of the above-described devices 20, 24, 30 and 40 may be used to define an annulus which covers the limbal area of a patient's eye properly. The annulus is defined by usage of a shaped beam of visible light to direct the operator about where a treating beam will hit the eye, then the operator can activate the treating beam to irradiate the whole annulus or specific spots within the annulus as desired. The treatment of annular region may be achieved by using either a ring-like aperture in the plate or by using one or more apertures and rotation of the plate.

It should be noted, although not specifically shown, that in some other embodiments of the device of the invention, the structured treatment light may be created by using a beam shaping element being a refractive or diffractive optical element. The refractive or diffractive optical element may be made from glass or plastic having transmitting and refracting or diffractive optics which will create a circular beam or rapidly deliver a number of discrete beams to the limbal area. When electromagnetic radiation is incident on the refractive or diffractive optical element, the radiation exits the opposite side of the element as a beam having an annular cross section. This allows irradiation of an annulus around the limbal area by a continuous ring of light. The annulus of light may have, for example, a diameter between 9 and 13 mm, and may be from 0.5 to 2.5 mm in radial width. The lasers involved may be doubled Nd/YAG, argon or any diode emitting radiation in the visible or infrared.

In yet other embodiments of the device of the invention, an ellipsoidal or parabolic mirror can be used that when illuminated by a large spot of light scanning along a large circle will generate a small ring at its focal plane.

The optical device may be a lens through which a single point can be illuminated on the limbal area. In this case, the system may include a manipulator to allow the laser beam to be directed to a plurality of locations around the limbal area in succession to impact on a plurality of locations of the trabecular meshwork. A first point around the limbal area can be illuminated, after which, the laser beam can be directed towards a second point around the limbus, and so on. This can be done automatically and rapidly. Up to about 200 points can be illuminated simultaneously at the treatment intensity with a single laser.

Turning now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, a system 60 of the present invention for use in treating an eye is schematically illustrated. The system 60 includes an illumination unit including a first source 62 of electromagnetic radiation that generates a treatment beam 64, and a second source 76 of electromagnetic radiation that generates an aiming beam. The system 60 also includes a beam shaping device 66 for shaping and directing the treatment beam 64 to one or more regions of a limbal area of an eye. The beam shaping device 66 may be, for example, any one of the mask-like devices 20, 24, 30 or may use a lens 40 described above. As previously mentioned, it should be noted that the device 66 need not be use in contact with the eye, but generally, as shown in the non-limiting example of FIG. 6A, it may be configured for direct contact with eye. FIG. 6B shows another non-limiting example in which device 66 is not in contact with the eye. Operation of the source 62 is under the control of a control unit 68 which is typically a computer device comprising inter alia a CPU 70, a memory 72 and a user input device, such as a keypad 74. The CPU 70 is installed with an electronic utility (software/hardware) pre-programmed according to the invention for receiving the user input indicative of that the aiming beam is properly aligned with the limbus for actuating the treatment mode of the system and controlling the pulse operation of the source 62 and possibly also rotation of the aperture disk. Also preferably provided in the system is a marker utility for marking a region onto which the patient's eye should be focused or in other words the line of sight of the patient should be directed to said region thus enabling to keep the patient's eye in a correct position during treatment. The marker may be constituted by a light spot aligned with the center of the beam shaping device (disk). To this end, the disk may be made of material opaque for both the aiming and treatment beams and in addition to the above-described optical windows transparent for the aiming and treatment beams around the periphery region thereof, has a central optical window transparent only for the aiming beam. Alternatively, a light spot may be projected onto the central region of the disk at its side facing the patient's eye. This may for example be implemented using the same aiming beam source, by splitting the emitted beam into two portions, one forming the aiming beam propagating towards one side of the disk, and the other being directed (by mirrors) towards the central region of the other side of the disk.

The treatment beam 64 can have a wavelength, for example, between 514 and 850 nm. The source 62 may be a laser operative in the near infrared range, such as a 532 Nd:YAG laser.

The user input device 74 may be used to input parameters relating to the treatment. For example, a user may input the beam intensity, the number of pulses of electromagnetic radiation that is to be delivered to the eye, and the pulse rate. The user selection of the beam shaping device for use in the treatment procedure determines a number of illuminated spots around the limbus. The parameters may be stored in the memory 72. The memory may also be used to store data relating to the individual being treated, as well as any relevant observations relating to the treatment.

Each pulse duration may be between 1 and 1000 milliseconds, and the fluence of a single pulse may be 0.5 to 1 J/cm². The total energy delivered to a single eye may be from 4 to 8 J. At this fluence, the beam 64 is not visible. (Alternatively, shorter pulses and/or higher or lower fluence may be used resulting in higher or lower delivered energy. Lower energy can be useful particularly when the system 60 is applied in treatments using low-level laser therapy, such as treating dry eye and other conditions, possibly by means of stem cell stimulation.) The second source 76 of electromagnetic radiation produces a visible light beam 78. The source 76 (or appropriate light directing element) may be temporarily positioned to direct the beam 78 towards the eye via the device 66 while manipulating the position of the device 66 until arriving to the proper position of the device 66 and thus of the illumination pattern produced by the beam 78 as described above. The device 66 is properly positioned, whether the device is in contact with the eye or not, when the beam 78 impinging on the device 66 “draws” the lumbus area contour and thus the treatment beam 64 is delivered only to the limbal area 82 of the eye 80.

In use, the device 66 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the eye, the distance ranges between less than 1 mm to 200 mm. The aiming light source 76 is activated to illuminate, with the visible beam 78, an annulus having an inner (or outer) diameter that surrounds the limbus (as described above using opaque or transparent disk for visual radiation), and while under such illumination the source 62 is activated to generate a predetermined sequence of pulses of the treatment beam 64, hitting the eye within the defined annulus.

The sources of the aiming and treatment beams, 76 and 62 respectively, are preferably activated concurrently to make sure that the treatment beam is always directed to the right region(s) in the eye. At times, a sequence is actuated that includes sequential illumination by source 76 and treatment by source 62 to different spots in the limbal area of the eye each time. At any time, the device 66 may be rotated and another sequence of one or more pulses may be generated. The process may be repeated as required in any treatment. Once the patient's eye which is to be treated is positioned properly in the optical path of the beam and the line of sight of the patient is properly directed, the whole treatment procedure using the system of the present invention lasts for only part of a second, thus enhancing the patient convenience and supplying a very effective treatment.

Although the embodiments described above refer particularly to treatment of the trabecular meshwork, the principles of the present invention may similarly be applied, mutatis mutandis, in treatment of other conditions and tissue structures associated with the cornea. For example, as noted earlier, the systems and methods described above may be adapted to treat conditions of the corneal epithelium, such as dry eye.

Claims

1. Apparatus for medical treatment, comprising: a laser source, which is configured to output a treatment beam of laser radiation;an aiming beam source, which is configured to output an aiming beam of visible radiation in alignment with the treatment beam and having smaller intensity than the treatment beam;an optical device, which is configured to direct the aiming beam to impinge on a limbus of an eye and, after alignment of the aiming beam with the limbus, to direct the laser radiation to impinge on the limbus of the eye with optical properties chosen so as to apply a desired treatment to a tissue structure associated with a cornea of the eye within the limbus; anda marker utility for marking a point onto which the eye should be focused during the treatment by providing a light spot in a central region of the optical device in front of the eye while the aiming beam and the treatment beam are directed to the limbus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is configured to scan the beam over at least a part of the limbus without making any contact with the eye.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical properties are chosen so as to irradiate a trabecular meshwork beneath the cornea with an intensity sufficient to reduce an intraocular pressure in the eye.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical properties are chosen so as to stimulate stem cells associated with the cornea.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the optical properties are chosen so as to stimulate the stem cells associated with a stroma of the cornea.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the optical properties are chosen so as to stimulate the stem cells in an endothelium of the cornea.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the optical properties are chosen so as to stimulate the stem cells in an epithelium of the cornea.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical properties are chosen so as to irradiate an epithelium of the cornea in order to treat a condition of dry eye.

9. A method for medical treatment, comprising: providing a laser source, which is configured to output a treatment beam of laser radiation;providing an aiming beam source, which is configured to output an aiming beam of visible radiation in alignment with the treatment beam and having smaller intensity than the treatment beam;applying an optical device, comprising one or more optical elements, to direct the aiming beam to impinge on a limbus of an eye and, after alignment of the aiming beam with the limbus, to direct the laser radiation to impinge on the limbus of the eye with optical properties chosen so as to apply a desired treatment to a tissue structure associated with a cornea of the eye within the limbus; andmarking a point onto which the eye should be focused during the treatment by providing a light spot in a central region of the optical device in front of the eye while the aiming beam and the treatment beam are directed to the limbus.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein applying the optical device comprises scanning the beam over at least a part of the limbus without making any contact with the eye.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein applying the optical device comprises directing the beam to irradiate a trabecular meshwork beneath the cornea with an intensity sufficient to reduce an intraocular pressure in the eye.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein applying the optical device comprises directing the beam to stimulate stem cells associated with the cornea.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein directing the beam comprises stimulating the stem cells associated with a stroma of the cornea.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein directing the beam comprises stimulating the stem cells in an endothelium of the cornea.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein directing the beam comprises stimulating the stem cells in an epithelium of the cornea.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein applying the optical device comprises directing the beam to irradiate an epithelium of the cornea in order to treat a condition of dry eye.