Apparatus for cutting an epithelial corneal flap

Apparatus for cutting a corneal flap with: a fixing ring; a suction source; a cutter head including an oscillating blade; actuator elements for actuating the cutter head relative to the ring; control elements for controlling the settings for suction, oscillation, and actuation, of the blade so as to produce: a stage in where cutting of the corneal flap is started, the suction level is at a maximum, the cutter head advance speed is at a minimum, while the blade frequency oscillation is at a maximum; a stage of cutting the major portion of the corneal flap where the advance speed is maintained or increased while the oscillation speed and the suction level are maintained or decreased; and a third stage where the head speed is reversed, the oscillations being stopped and the suction level maintained at the level of the second stage.