A method and device for highly accurate corneal topographical mapping and a device for effecting the mapping for use in effecting vision correction by removal of corneal tissue. The method and device involve use of a modified optical interferometer with directing of a coherent light beam, such as from a laser, to the anterior surface of a cornea; splitting the beam so that half the beam is directed to a reference object having a predetermined shape; capturing the reflected light from the cornea and the reference object so as to form an interference pattern; and using the interference pattern to determine deviations or displacements of the corneal surface from the known reference shape. The deviations are then utilized in corneal tissue removing procedures, such as RK, PRK and RLK, by determination of the extent and position of tissue removal. With a modified RLK procedure, the deviations are used in preparing an appropriate corneal template for use with a keratome using a high speed water jet as the cutting means.