Abstract: A system for producing polychromatic light having selectively shaped wavefronts includes a source for generating light beams of at least two wavelengths (?1, ?2). The beams are made up of a plurality of contiguous sub-beams that establish ?1 and ?2 wavefronts. From the source, the light is directed toward an optical phase shifting device which can include one or more arrays, with each array having a plurality of elements. Functionally, within a particular array, each element is independently adjustable to selectively alter the optical pathlength of a corresponding sub-beam. For light having two wavelengths (?1, ?2), a first array configuration is used to reshape the ?1 wavelength light and a second array configuration is used to reshape the ?2 wavelength light. After wavefront reshaping, the ?1 and ?2 wavelength light is directed onto a common beam path where it can be viewed, imaged or further processed.

Abstract: A system for positioning the eye of a patient, relative to a stationary surgical laser unit, includes a chair for moving the patient. An eye stabilizing element is held against the eye, with a tapered receptacle extending outwardly therefrom. Also, an alignment device with a tapered tip is mounted on the surgical laser unit. In operation, the patient is moved to engage the receptacle of the eye stabilizing element with the tip of the alignment device, to thereby align the patient's eye with the surgical laser unit for laser surgery.