A method implemented in an ophthalmic surgical laser system that employs a resonant scanner, scan line rotator, and XY- and Z-scanners, for forming a corneal flap in a patient's eye with improved bubble management during each step of the flap creation process. A pocket cut is formed first below bed level, followed by the bed connected to the pocket cut, then by a side cut extending from the bed to the anterior corneal surface. The pocket cut includes a pocket region located below the bed level and a ramp region connecting the pocket region to the bed. The bed is formed by a bed cut, including multiple overlapping parallel raster scan passes, and a ring cut. The side cut is formed by multiple side-cut layers at different depths which are joined together. All cuts are formed by scanning a laser scan line generated by the resonant scanner.

A planning device for generating control data for a treatment apparatus which by means of a laser device produces at least one incision surface in the cornea, and to a treatment apparatus having such a planning device. The invention further relates to a method for generating control data for a treatment apparatus which by using a laser device produces at least one incision surface in the cornea, and to a corresponding ophthalmic surgery method. The planning device is thereby provided with calculation means for defining the corneal incision surfaces, wherein the calculation means determine the corneal incision surfaces on the basis of data of a LIRIC structure and/or a refractive correction, and generate for the corneal incision surfaces a control data set for controlling the laser device, wherein the calculation means determine the corneal incision surfaces in such a manner that the LIRIC structure is enclosed by the incision surfaces.

A system for correcting chromatic aberrations in an eye includes a diagnostic system configured to provide aberration data regarding a degree of chromatic aberration within an eye; a laser system; and a processing circuit configured to determine a diffractive lens profile to be applied to corneal tissue of the eye based on the aberration data and a desired correction of the chromatic aberration within the eye; and control operation of the laser system to apply the diffractive lens profile to the corneal tissue.

A method for providing vision correction to a patient. The method includes: (a) measuring the degree of vision correction needed by the patient and determining the location and shape of refractive structures that need to be positioned within the cornea to partially correct a patient's vision; (b) directing and focusing femtosecond laser pulses in the blue spectral region within the cornea at an intensity high enough to change the refractive index of the cornea within a focal region, but not high enough to damage the cornea or to affect cornea tissue outside of the focal region; and (c) scanning the laser pulses across a volume of the cornea or the lens to provide the focal region with refractive structures in the cornea or the lens. Again, the refractive structures are characterized by a change in refractive index, and exhibit little or no scattering loss.

The methods and apparatus disclosed herein can be used to adjust the effective lens position (ELP) of the eye in order to correct refractive error of the eye. The methods and apparatus can be configured to apply energy to the sclera and other regions of the eye in order to adjust the effective lens position of the eye for far vision. The sclera can be treated in order to shrink or relax the sclera, and combinations thereof in order to adjust the position of the lens of the eye in order to correct vision related to refractive error of the eye. A target location of the lens can be determined to correct the refractive error of the eye, and the energy applied in order to move the lens toward the target location.

By adapting femtosecond micromachining approaches developed in hydrogels, we can perform Intra-tissue Refractive Index Shaping (IRIS) in biological tissues. We reduced femtosecond laser pulse energies below the optical breakdown thresholds to create grating patterns that are associated with a change in the refractive index of the tissue. To increase two-photon absorption, we used a two (or more)-photon-absorbing chromophore.

Devices and methods for novel retinal irradiance distribution modification (IDM) to improve, stabilize or restore vision are described herein. Also encompassed herein are devices and methods to reduce vision loss from diseases, injuries and disorders that involve damaged and/or dysfunctional and/or sensorily deprived retinal cells. Conditions that may be treated using devices and methods described herein include macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Therapy provided by retinal IDM devices and methods described herein may also be used in combination with other therapies including, but not limited to, pharmacological, retinal laser, gene and stem cell therapies.

A laser system for changing the index of refraction of cornea tissue in a living eye. The laser system comprises a laser that provides laser pulses with a wavelength from 400 nm to 900 nm and a pulse energy from 0.01 nJ to 10 nJ, and a control device for setting the operating parameters of the laser below an optical breakdown threshold of the tissue to avoid photo-disruption and tissue destruction of the tissue, and to direct the laser pulses at the cornea tissue resulting in a change in the index of refraction of the tissue within regions irradiated by the laser pulses.

According to certain embodiments, a method for laser cutting treatment of a human eye comprises: determining position information of a pupil center of the eye in relation to a point of minimal corneal thickness in an undeformed state of the eye; locating the point of minimal corneal thickness in a flattened state of the eye, in which the eye is deformed by contact with a patient adapter of a laser device; and aligning a pulse firing pattern for laser radiation pulses of the laser device, based on a position of the located point of minimal corneal thickness and the determined position information. In embodiments, the pulse firing pattern represents, for example, a lenticular or doughnut-shaped intracorneal tissue volume which is to be removed from the cornea of the eye.

A system for ophthalmic surgery includes a laser source configured to deliver an ultraviolet laser beam comprising laser pulses having a wavelength between 320 nm and 370 nm to photodecompose one or more intraocular targets within the eye with chromophore absorbance. The pulse energy, the pulse duration, and the focal spot are such that an irradiance at the focal spot is sufficient to photodecompose the one or more intraocular targets without exceeding a threshold of formation of a plasma and an associated cavitation event. An optical system operatively coupled to the laser source and configured to focus the ultraviolet laser beam to a focal spot and direct the focal spot in a pattern into the one or more intraocular targets. The optical system focuses the laser beam at a numerical aperture that provides for the focal spot to be scanned over a scan range of 6 mm to 10 mm.