A device and a method for irradiating the cornea of an eye, wherein the device includes at least the following elements: a ring body, which has a bearing surface embodied concentrically about the longitudinal axis of the device for the purpose of fastening the device on the eye, an irradiation channel for irradiating the cornea, which is located inside the ring body, a light source, which, in the operationally-ready state of the device, is attached inside the ring body for emitting light in the irradiation channel, wherein the bearing surface for fastening the device is arranged outside the irradiation channel, which has the result that the irradiated area itself is not additionally loaded by bearing surfaces of the device.