A target surface in an eye is located using a dual aiming beam apparatus that transmits a first aiming beam of light and a second aiming beam of light. An optics subsystem receives a laser beam from a laser source, the first aiming beam of light, and the second aiming beam of light, and directs the beams of light to be incident with the target surface and aligns the beams of light such that they intersect at a point corresponding to a focus of the laser beam. An imaging apparatus captures an image of the target surface including a first spot corresponding to the first aiming beam of light and a second spot corresponding to a second aiming beam of light. A separation between the spots indicates that the focus is away from the target surface, while overlapping spots indicate the focus is at or on the target surface.

A method is disclosed for controlling a laser device for a laser-induced refractive index change (URIC) of a polymer structure. The laser device is controlled by a control device such that it emits pulsed laser pulses in a shot sequence in a preset pattern into the polymer structure. The laser pulses are emitted with preset irradiation parameters for refractive index change of the polymer structure, wherein for adjusting an order of magnitude of the refractive index change, a spatial pulse distance of the laser pulses in the polymer structure is adapted and the further irradiation parameters are kept within respective preset irradiation parameter ranges.

A planning device that generates control data for a treatment apparatus which produces at least one cut surface in the cornea by application of a laser device. The invention further relates to a treatment apparatus having a planning device of the aforementioned type and a method for generating control data for this treatment apparatus, and also to a method for eye surgery, at least one cut surface being produced by application of a treatment apparatus with a laser device. The planning device includes a calculation application that defined corneal cut surfaces, which facilitates a largely free assignment to geometric variables of the eye. The method for generating control data includes generating a control data record for the corneal cut surface that controls the laser device, wherein the planning device, during the determination of the cut surfaces, facilitates a largely free assignment to geometric variables of the eye.

Apparatus to treat an eye comprises an annular retention structure to couple to an anterior surface of the eye. The retention structure is coupled to a suction line to couple the retention structure to the eye with suction. A coupling sensor is coupled to the retention structure or the suction line to determine coupling of the retention structure to the eye. A fluid collecting container can be coupled to the retention structure to receive and collect liquid or viscous material from the retention structure. A fluid stop comprising a porous structure can be coupled to an outlet of the fluid collecting container to inhibit passage of the liquid or viscous material when the container has received an amount of the liquid or viscous material. The coupling sensor can be coupled upstream of the porous structure to provide a rapid measurement of the coupling of the retention structure to the eye.

Methods and systems wherein laser induced refractive index changes by focused femtosecond laser pulses in optical polymeric materials or optical tissues is performed to address various types of vision correction.

Intraocular pressure in an eye is reduced by delivering a high resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) beam and a high resolution laser beam through the cornea, and the anterior chamber into the irido-corneal angle along an angled beam path. The OCT beam provides OCT imaging for surgery planning and monitoring, while the laser beam is configured to modify tissue or affect ocular fluid by photo-disruptive interaction. In one implementation, a volume of ocular tissue within an outflow pathway in the irido-corneal angle is modified to create a channel opening in one or more layers of the trabecular meshwork. In another implementation, a volume of fluid in the Schlemm's canal is affected by the laser to bring about a pneumatic expansion of the canal. In either implementation, resistance to aqueous flow through the eye is reduced.

In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic laser system includes a laser device and a computer, where the laser device includes a laser and a phase modulator. The laser device directs a laser beam towards a target in an eye, where an intraocular lens (IOL) is disposed within the eye. The IOL has a phase profile that yields an IOL phase shift of light entering the eye. The laser generates the laser beam. The phase modulator has a phase front that yields a first phase shift of the laser beam that changes to a second phase shift when the laser beam reaches the IOL. The second phase shift is an inverse to the IOL phase shift.

In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic laser surgical system for imaging and treating a target in an eye includes an optical coherence tomography (OCT) device that: directs an imaging beam towards the eye; generates three-dimensional (3D) image data from the imaging beam reflected from the eye; and generates two-dimensional (2D) enface images from the 3D image data. The 2D enface images include a target enface image imaging the target in the eye and a retinal enface image imaging a shadow cast by the target onto the retina. An xy-scanner directs the imaging beam along an imaging beam path towards the eye, and directs a laser beam from the laser device along a laser beam path aligned with the imaging beam path towards the eye. A computer compares the target of the target enface image and the shadow of the retinal enface image to confirm the presence of the target.

In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic laser system that performs a laser procedure on an eye includes a laser device, an ophthalmic microscope, a y-direction motor, a user interface device, and a controller. The laser device includes a laser delivery head that directs a laser beam towards a target within the eye. The laser beam defines a z-axis, which defines an xy-plane with a y-axis that defines a y-direction. The ophthalmic microscope receives light from within the eye to provide an image of the eye. The user interface device receives instructions from a user. The controller receives an instruction from the user interface device to move the laser delivery head and the ophthalmic microscope in the y-direction, and instructs the y-direction motor to move the laser delivery head and the ophthalmic microscope in the y-direction in response to the instruction.

In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic laser system includes a laser device, an ophthalmic microscope, and a controller. The laser device directs laser pulses towards a target within an eye. The target has a dimension. The laser device includes a laser configured to generate a laser beam and one or more laser beam multiplexers. A laser beam multiplexer modulates the laser beam to yield a pulse pattern of laser pulses. The pulse pattern has a coverage related to the dimension of the target to limit movement of the target. The ophthalmic microscope gathers light reflected from within the eye to yield an image of the eye. The controller instructs the laser device to direct the laser pulses towards the target to yield the pulse pattern of laser pulses.