Methods of fabricating a collagen lenticule precursor for modifying the cornea

A lenticule is bonded to the eye as part of its formation process by curing or final curing the lenticule on the eye. Such lenticules provide a smooth transition from the body of the lenticule to Bowman's layer on which the lenticule is disposed. The lenticule at the time its material or precursor is placed on the eye may vary from being essentially all viscous collagen which flows and must be molded to obtain a desired lenticule configuration to a substantially stable preform which holds its own shape. Such preformed lenticules may be formed using an appropriate mold and photopolymerization or other partial curing techniques to pre-cure the lenticule material to an appropriate stage for application to the eye. In one method, such a partially cured lenticule precursor is formed in layers by depositing a quantity of curable viscous collagen in an anterior surface mold, partially curing the viscous collagen, and repeatedly depositing and partially curing subsequent collagen layers until a preform having a desired thickness has been formed.