How Lasers Correct Vision by Reshaping the Eye's Front Surface
This patent describes a method for precisely reshaping the front surface of the eye using an ultraviolet laser to correct vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Original patent title: “Method for ophthalmological surgery”
This patent describes a method for precisely reshaping the front surface of the eye using an ultraviolet laser to correct vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Granted to LRI LP in 1987 with 64 claims and 381 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent details a method for changing the optical properties of an eye by operating solely on the cornea's anterior surface. It uses selective ultraviolet (UV) laser radiation to remove corneal tissue through a process called ablative photodecomposition (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). This process sculpts the cornea to a predetermined curvature profile, correcting vision defects. For example, to fix astigmatism, the laser beam is focused to a tiny spot and scanned over the cornea in a specific pattern, removing tissue to a precise depth (Claim 3). This scanning action changes the cornea's shape, allowing it to focus light correctly.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover vision correction methods that operate on parts of the eye other than the anterior surface of the cornea.
- Does not cover laser eye surgery using non-ultraviolet light, as it specifically claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → "ultraviolet irradiation" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover methods that reshape the cornea without removing tissue through "ablative photodecomposition" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover techniques that do not aim for a "predetermined curvature profile" to correct specific vision errors (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover procedures where the laser ablation does not penetrate into the stroma layer of the cornea (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The truly clever part was realizing that ultraviolet lasers could precisely remove corneal tissue layer by layer without causing heat damage to surrounding cells, a process called ablative photodecomposition. This allowed for the exact sculpturing of the cornea's surface to a predetermined shape, something previous surgical methods could not achieve with such control.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
Laser-Assisted Subepithelial Keratomileusis (LASEK)
Epi-LASIK
Early forms of LASIK procedures
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is foundational for modern laser eye surgery, specifically procedures like Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK). It introduced the precise use of UV lasers to sculpt the cornea, moving beyond less accurate surgical methods. This technology made it possible to correct common vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism with high precision, significantly reducing reliance on glasses and contact lenses for millions of people.
Filed
June 24, 1985
Granted
May 19, 1987
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Alcon, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Carl Zeiss Meditec, and Bausch + Lomb are major players in the ophthalmic industry, developing and manufacturing advanced laser systems and diagnostic tools for vision correction. These companies continue to innovate on the principles of corneal reshaping established by this foundational work, improving precision and expanding treatable conditions.
Market impact
This patent, and the technology it describes, created an entirely new market for elective vision correction surgery. It enabled the development of procedures like PRK, which offered a highly effective alternative to glasses and contact lenses. This led to a multi-billion dollar industry, making laser eye surgery a common and accessible procedure for correcting refractive errors worldwide and significantly impacting the quality of life for many.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent details a method for changing the optical properties of an eye by operating solely on the cornea's anterior surface. It uses selective ultraviolet (UV) laser radiation to remove corneal tissue through a process called ablative photodecomposition (Claim 1). This process sculpts the cornea to a predetermined curvature profile, correcting vision defects. For example, to fix astigmatism, the laser beam is focused to a tiny spot and scanned over the cornea in a specific pattern, removing tissue to a precise depth (Claim 3). This scanning action changes the cornea's shape, allowing it to focus light correctly.
The clever bit
The truly clever part was realizing that ultraviolet lasers could precisely remove corneal tissue layer by layer without causing heat damage to surrounding cells, a process called ablative photodecomposition. This allowed for the exact sculpturing of the cornea's surface to a predetermined shape, something previous surgical methods could not achieve with such control.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover vision correction methods that operate on parts of the eye other than the anterior surface of the cornea.
- Does not cover laser eye surgery using non-ultraviolet light, as it specifically claims "ultraviolet irradiation" (Claim 1).
- Does not cover methods that reshape the cornea without removing tissue through "ablative photodecomposition" (Claim 1).
- Does not cover techniques that do not aim for a "predetermined curvature profile" to correct specific vision errors (Claim 1).
- Does not cover procedures where the laser ablation does not penetrate into the stroma layer of the cornea (Claim 1).
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$158K – $507K
Midpoint $317K · expired or expiring · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
64 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Jr., F. A. L. (1987). How Lasers Correct Vision by Reshaping the Eye's Front Surface (U.S. Patent No. 4,665,913). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4665913/laser-eye-surgery-lesperance
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Lasers Correct Vision by Reshaping the Eye's Front Surface cover?
This patent describes a method for precisely reshaping the front surface of the eye using an ultraviolet laser to correct vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Who owns patent US 4665913?
LRI LP owns this patent, granted in 1987.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 4665913 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 381 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is foundational for modern laser eye surgery, specifically procedures like Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK). It introduced the precise use of UV lasers to sculpt the cornea, moving beyond less accurate surgical methods. This technology made it possible to correct common vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism with high precision, significantly reducing reliance on glasses and contact lenses for millions of people.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover vision correction methods that operate on parts of the eye other than the anterior surface of the cornea.
Patent monitoring