An orientation method for corrective eye surgery that registers pairs of eyeimages taken at different times and with the patient in different positionsincludes retrieving reference digital image data on an eye of the patient,including image data on an extracorneal eye feature. Real-time image data arecollected that include image data on the extracorneal eye feature. A combinedimage is displayed of a superposition of the data sets, and a determination ismade as to whether the combined image indicates an adequate registrationbetween them based upon the extracorneal eye feature data in the two datasets. If the registration is not adequate, one of the data sets is manipulateduntil an adequate registration is achieved. A system is directed to apparatusand software for orienting a corrective program for eye surgery.
