Abstract
The optimal values of the parameters of a scanning system for laser corneal surgery are determined by using a computer model. The correction of myopia is simulated. The accuracy of the correction, the smoothness of the corneal surface after ablation, and the time needed for surgery are computed. With a beam diameter of 0.5 mm, an overlap of 60% to 80%, and a 5 mm diameter treatment zone, the simulated error is less than 0.1 Diopter for a correction of 6 Diopters or less; the roughness is less than 7% of the central ablation depth; the number of pulses per Diopter of correction is 2500 if the beam intensity distribution is Gaussian and 580 if the beam intensity distribution is uniform.