Abstract: A system and method for resecting corneal tissue is disclosed. A resection pattern is selected for resecting corneal tissue. The resection pattern is incised in a cornea using a surgical laser, leaving one or more uncut gaps in the incised resection pattern. Any uncut gaps left in the resection pattern may thereafter be incised using an alternate surgical instrument.

Abstract: A method and system for improved material processing using a laser beam. The method and system includes directing a laser beam above, at or below the surface of the material in one or more preferred patterns and with preferred laser pulse characteristics specific to the material to reduce or mitigate the accumulation or effects of gas, debris, fluid, or other by-products of photodisruption either at the location where additional laser pulses are being placed or in other sensitive locations in the material.

Abstract: A method for applanating an anterior surface of a cornea and coupling the eye to a surgical laser is disclosed. A interface is provided which has a central orifice and top and bottom surfaces. A suction ring is removably coupled to the bottom surface of the interface. The interface is positioned over an operative area of an eye, such that the suction ring comes into proximate contact with the surface of the eye. A suction is applied to the suction ring to stabilize the position of the interface relative to the operative area of the eye. An applanation lens is positioned in proximate contact with the operative area of the eye. Finally, the applanation lens is coupled to the interface to stabilize the position of the lens relative to the operative area of the eye.

Abstract: A disposable lens for reconfiguring the cornea of an eye for ophthalmic laser surgery includes a lens which has a flat anterior surface that is formed opposite a contact surface. A skirt surrounds the contact surface and extends outwardly therefrom to define a chamber. The skirt is formed with a groove which creates a suction channel between the skirt and the contact surface in the chamber. In its operation, the lens is positioned over the cornea and a vacuum pump is selectively activated to create a partial vacuum in the suction channel. Due to this partial vacuum, the cornea is drawn into the chamber where it is urged against the contact surface of the lens. The result of this is that the cornea is flattened into a configuration where the introduction of spherical aberration and coma into a light beam passing into the cornea is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A method and system for improved material processing using a laser beam. The method and system includes directing a laser beam above, at or below the surface of the material in one or more preferred patterns and with preferred laser pulse characteristics specific to the material to reduce or mitigate the accumulation or effects of gas, debris, fluid, or other by-products of photodisruption either at the location where additional laser pulses are being placed or in other sensitive locations in the material.

Abstract: A disposable stabilization and applanation device for reconfiguring the cornea of an eye for ophthalmic laser surgery, includes an applanation lens that is disposed in a particular spatial position with respect to an incident laser beam. The applanation lens is inserted into the central opening of an attachment ring and applanates the eye in response to pressure from a lens cone. The attachment ring is coupled to the eye and includes a skirt which surrounds the applanation lens and extends outwardly therefrom to define a chamber. The skirt is formed with a groove which defines a suction channel between the attachment ring skirt and the corneal surface of an eye. A vacuum source is connected and fluid communication with the suction channel and is selectively activated to create a partial vacuum in the channel.

Abstract: A disposable stabilization and applanation device for reconfiguring the cornea of an eye for ophthalmic laser surgery, includes an applanation lens that is disposed in a particular spatial position with respect to an incident laser beam. The applanation lens is inserted into the central opening of an attachment ring and applanates the eye in response to pressure from a lens cone. The attachment ring is coupled to the eye and includes a skirt which surrounds the applanation lens and extends outwardly therefrom to define a chamber. The skirt is formed with a groove which defines a suction channel between the attachment ring skirt and the corneal surface of an eye. A vacuum source is connected and fluid communication with the suction channel and is selectively activated to create a partial vacuum in the channel. In operation, the attachment ring is coupled to the cornea by application of suction and the applanation lens lowered into contact with the cornea through the attachment ring's central opening.

Abstract: A device for removing gas and debris from the stroma of an eye during ophthalmic laser surgery includes a contact lens that is formed with a recessed chamber. The device also includes a suction pump that is connected in fluid communication with the recessed chamber. In operation, the stroma is stabilized in the recessed chamber of the contact lens and an opening into the stroma is created. This opening is created either by the laser beam, or by a probe that is mounted on the contact lens to penetrate the stroma while the stroma is stabilized in the recessed chamber of the contact lens. Then, simultaneously or subsequently, as a laser beam is directed through the contact lens to photodisrupt tissue in the stroma the suction pump is activated to aspirate the resultant gas and debris through the opening and out of the stroma.

Abstract: A method for customizing corneal corrections includes superposing an imaginary reference field (grid) on the anterior surface of the cornea of an eye to divide the corneal surface into reference areas. Also, a diagnostically determined refractive power map for the cornea is created. An incising laser beam is then directed through an individual reference area to a focal spot. Next, movement of the focal spot along the laser beam path is selectively accomplished to photoalter a predetermined volume of stromal tissue. Subsequently, based on the refractive power map, the predetermined volume of stromal tissue that is to be photoaltered is identified for each specific reference area. Accordingly, the steps of directing the beam and moving the focal spot are then repeated using selected reference areas until the required corneal correction is achieved.

Abstract: A method and system for improved material processing using a laser beam. The method and system includes directing a laser beam above, at or below the surface of the material in one or more preferred patterns and with preferred laser pulse characteristics specific to the material to reduce or mitigate the accumulation or effects of gas, debris, fluid, or other by-products of photodisruption either at the location where additional laser pulses are being placed or in other sensitive locations in the material.

Abstract: A disposable lens for reconfiguring the cornea of an eye for ophthalmic laser surgery includes a lens which has a flat anterior surface that is formed opposite a contact surface. A skirt surrounds the contact surface and extends outwardly therefrom to define a chamber. The skirt is formed with a groove which creates a suction channel between the skirt and the contact surface in the chamber. In its operation, the lens is positioned over the cornea and a vacuum pump is selectively activated to create a partial vacuum in the suction channel. Due to this partial vacuum, the cornea is drawn into the chamber where it is urged against the contact surface of the lens. The result of this is that the cornea is flattened into a configuration where the introduction of spherical aberration and coma into a light beam passing into the cornea is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A surgical method for vision correction includes the step of first determining the type, size and shape of a corneal implant and a location within the stroma for placement of the corneal implant. Next, the dimensions of a stromal pocket suitable for accommodating the corneal implant are prescribed. To create the stromal pocket, a pulsed laser beam is focused to a point within the stromal tissue and then moved within the stromal tissue to photodisrupt the prescribed volume of stromal tissue. Once the stromal pocket is established, an entry channel extending from the anterior surface of the eye to the stromal pocket is created. The entry channel is sized to allow the prescribed corneal implant to pass through the entry channel and into the stromal pocket.

Abstract: A disposable stabilization and applanation device for reconfiguring the cornea of an eye for ophthalmic laser surgery, includes an applanation lens that is disposed in a particular spatial position with respect to an incident laser beam. The applanation lens is inserted into the central opening of an attachment ring and applanates the eye in response to pressure from a lens cone. The attachment ring is coupled to the eye and includes a skirt which surrounds the applanation lens and extends outwardly therefrom to define a chamber. The skirt is formed with a groove which defines a suction channel between the attachment ring skirt and the corneal surface of an eye. A vacuum source is connected and fluid communication with the suction channel and is selectively activated to create a partial vacuum in the channel. In operation, the attachment ring is coupled to the cornea by application of suction and the applanation lens lowered into contact with the cornea through the attachment ring's central opening.

Abstract: A device for removing gas and debris from the stroma of an eye during ophthalmic laser surgery includes a contact lens that is formed with a recessed chamber. The device also includes a suction pump that is connected in fluid communication with the recessed chamber. In operation, the stroma is stabilized in the recessed chamber of the contact lens and an opening into the stroma is created. This opening is created either by the laser beam, or by a probe that is mounted on the contact lens to penetrate the stroma while the stroma is stabilized in the recessed chamber of the contact lens. Then, simultaneously or subsequently, as a laser beam is directed through the contact lens to photodisrupt tissue in the stroma the suction pump is activated to aspirate the resultant gas and debris through the opening and out of the stroma.

Abstract: A device for use in laser ophthalmic surgery includes a laser system, a disposable contact lens and an adjustable retainer ring for mounting the contact lens on the laser system. In order to properly align the disposable contact lens to the laser system, reference marks on the contact lens are brought into coincidence with predetermined focal points along the laser beam paths. To this end, the laser system successively directs a laser beam along at least three predetermined paths to respective predetermined focal points, and the contact lens is positioned across these predetermined paths. Along each predetermined path, the laser beam is activated to establish a series of laser marks on the contact lens. If the laser marks, predetermined focal points and reference marks are all coincident, then the contact lens is properly aligned with the laser system.

Abstract: A device for removing gas and debris from the stroma of an eye during ophthalmic laser surgery includes a contact lens that is formed with a recessed chamber. The device also includes a suction pump that is connected in fluid communication with the recessed chamber. In operation, the stroma is stabilized in the recessed chamber of the contact lens and an opening into the stroma is created. This opening is created either by the laser beam, or by a probe that is mounted on the contact lens to penetrate the stroma while the stroma is stabilized in the recessed chamber of the contact lens. Then, simultaneously or subsequently, as a laser beam is directed through the contact lens to photodisrupt tissue in the stroma the suction pump is activated to aspirate the resultant gas and debris through the opening and out of the stroma.

Abstract: A disposable lens for reconfiguring the cornea of an eye for ophthalmic laser surgery includes a lens which has a flat anterior surface that is formed opposite a contact surface. A skirt surrounds the contact surface and extends outwardly therefrom to define a chamber. The skirt is formed with a groove which creates a suction channel between the skirt and the contact surface in the chamber. In its operation, the lens is positioned over the cornea and a vacuum pump is selectively activated to create a partial vacuum in the suction channel. Due to this partial vacuum, the cornea is drawn into the chamber where it is urged against the contact surface of the lens. The result of this is that the cornea is flattened into a configuration where the introduction of spherical aberration and coma into a light beam passing into the cornea is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A disposable aplanatic lens for reconfiguring the cornea of an eye for ophthalmic laser surgery includes a lens which has a flat anterior surface that is substantially parallel to a flat aplanation surface. A skirt surrounds the aplanation surface and extends outwardly therefrom to define a chamber. Additionally, the skirt is formed with a groove which creates a suction channel between the skirt and the aplanation surface in the chamber. A vacuum pump is connected in fluid communication with the suction channel and is selectively activated to create a partial vacuum in the channel. In its operation, the aplanatic lens is positioned over the cornea and the pump is activated to create the partial vacuum. Due to this partial vacuum, the cornea is drawn into the chamber where it is urged against the aplanation surface of the lens. The result of this is that the cornea is flattened into an aplanation configuration which is free from spherical aberration and coma during ophthalmic surgery.

Abstract: An ab interno method for transscleral photodisruption of tissue on the interior surface of the sclera includes selecting a wavelength for a laser beam. The selected wavelength may be either from a first range of wavelengths (0.4-1.4 .mu.m) which is normally strongly scattered as it is transmitted through the sclera, or from a second range of longer wavelengths (1.5-2.5 .mu.m) which is less scattered as it is transmitted through the sclera. If the first range of wavelengths is selected, a chemical agent may be applied to the sclera to make it effectively transparent, but this may not be necessary. In either case, the laser beam is focused directly through the sclera to a focal point on the interior surface of the sclera. Once focused, the laser beam is activated to photodisrupt scleral tissue at the focal point. The laser beam is then moved in a pattern and refocused at successive focal points to photodisrupt scleral tissue at each of the focal points.