A system and method of resecting corneal tissue for transplantation is disclosed. In each of the recipient cornea and the donor cornea, an annular incision is made at a predetermined incision depth. A first sidecut incision is made in each cornea, running from the outer periphery of the annular incision to one of the anterior corneal surface or the posterior corneal surface. The first sidecut incision forms an acute angle with the annular incision. A second sidecut incision is also made in each cornea, running from the inner periphery of the annular incision to the other of the anterior corneal surface or the posterior corneal surface. The second sidecut incision forms an acute angle with the annular incision. The combination of the incisions in each cornea resects corneal tissue from the recipient cornea and donor tissue from the donor cornea. The donor tissue is grafted into the recipient cornea.