Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for treating a glaucomatous eye are provided. An amount of pulsed laser energy is delivered to the pars plana of the eye by a hand-holdable device which comprises a hand-holdable elongate member and a contact member disposed on an end of the elongate member. A contact surface of the contact member is placed in direct contact with the eye so that a reference edge of the contact member aligns with the limbus and a treatment axis defined by the elongate member is angularly offset from the optical axis of the eye. The amount of pulsed laser energy delivered is insufficient to effect therapeutic photocoagulation but is sufficient to increase uveoscleral outflow so as to maintain a reduction from pre-laser treatment intraocular pressure. Amounts of pulsed laser energy will be transmitted to a circumferential series of tissue regions of the eye.

Abstract: A method of monitoring and controlling the sub-threshold laser treatment of a patient's retina. Sensors are located on a patient to measure focal electroretinograms (FERG). A stimulating beam is delivered onto the patient's retina. A pre-treatment FERG signal is collected. Treatment FERG signals are collected while treating the retina with a sub-threshold laser treatment. A difference is determined between the pre-treatment and treatment FERG signals. The difference is used to control the termination of the treatment.

Abstract: An optical system is provided for use with a target site and includes a laser source producing an output beam and a reflector. A beam splitter is positioned to receive the output beam and splits the output beam into a first beam incident on the reflector and a second beam incident on at least one point of the target site. The reflector is adjustably positioned and movable along the reference optical path moveable along the reference optical path to change a length of the reference optical path.

Abstract: An optical device has a mount including a mount surface with a longitudinal axis. A diode source has a first diode emitter producing a first beam, a second diode emitter producing a second beam and a third diode emitter producing a third beam. The diode source is mounted above the mount surface at an angle &thgr; relative to the longitudinal axis of the mount. A prism array has a first prism face, a second prism face and a third prism face. The prism array has an angled surface cut at the angle &thgr; relative to a longitudinal axis of the prism array. The first, second and third beams are incident on the first, second and third prism faces respectively. Optical path lengths between the first, second and third diode emitters relative to the first, second and third prism faces are equal.

Abstract: A laser diode package couples laser diode outputs into a plurality of fibers, and these are bundled and brought to an output face that produces a divergent composite beam from the fiber ends. The beam end pumps a solid-state laser across a gap, and the divergence allows a wide tolerance in alignment of the pump and crystal. Preferably, one cavity mirror is a focusing mirror that reconcentrates residual pump light in the desired mode. In a preferred embodiment, the output face of the package is at a short stub or ferrule that provides a simple and effective pump beam centering alignment. The solid-state laser may be a rod or crystal and is preferably sufficiently short, in relation to pump beam diameter and divergence in the rod, that the pump beam within the rod lies in the TEMoo mode volume of the laser cavity. A concave mirror then refocuses residual pump light back into that mode. The rod preferably has a high index at the pump wavelength, but need not have high absorption.

Abstract: A laser with a quasi-top-hat pump beam has a modified intensity profile that produces a parabolic temperature gradient. The laser includes a high reflector and an output coupler defining a laser cavity. A gain medium positioned in the laser cavity. A first diode pump source produces a first pump source beam. An intensity profile of the first diode pump source beam is tailored to produce the parabolic temperature gradient across the gain medium.