A device for machining the human cornea with focused pulsed femtosecondlaser radiation comprises scanner components for local setting of the beamfocus, a control computer for controlling the scanner components, and acontrolprogram for the control computer. The control program contains instructionsthat upon execution by the control computer are designed to bring about thegeneration of an incision figure in the cornea encompassing a flap incision(38,40). In accordance with the invention the incision figure further encompassesan auxiliary incision (50) connected with the flap incision and leadinglocally,preferentially directly, away from the latter as far as the surface of thecornea.The auxiliary incision is expediently generated temporally ahead of the flapincision and forms a discharge channel through which gases can escape thatmay arise in the course of the cutting of the flap incision.
