A method for measuring the intraocular pressure (IOP) of an eye docked to an ophthalmic surgical laser system via a patient interface assembly. While the eye is docked to the laser system, and as the vertical force exerted on the eye by the patient interface fluctuates as the patient breaths and moves, the amount of corneal deformation is continuously measured by an optical coherence tomography device of the laser system and the force exerted on the eye is continuously measured by force sensors integrated in the patient interface assembly. Based on the real-time force signal and real-time corneal deformation signal, a controller calculates a linear relationship between force and corneal deformation, and determines the IOP of the docked eye by comparing a slope of the linear relationship against a pre-established slope vs. IOP calibration curve. The IOP of the docked eye can be used when setting laser treatment parameters.

Methods and apparatus to improve or restore vision by causing a rebooting of the visual system of an eye with modification of visual search, sampling and stimulation away from the preferred retinal locus of fixation of an eye to enhance neural integration and perception of visual information from within the field of view are described herein. Some embodiments cause transient, reversible or repeatable redirection of environmental light away from the preferred retinal locus of fixation of an eye to multiple retinal locations that are not the preferred retinal locus of fixation. Some embodiments reduce exposure of environmental light at the preferred retinal locus of fixation of an eye for a determinable interval at a determinable rate. Some embodiments cause a defocusing of environmental light at the preferred retinal locus of fixation in an eye with a visual impairment or loss.

A photodynamic therapy technique for preventing damage to the fovea of the eye or another body portion of a patient is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a treatment laser is applied to a body portion of a patient using a painting technique, the treatment laser being configured to provide paint brush-type photodynamic therapy (PPDT) using the painting technique to the body portion of the patient by emitting light of a predetermined wavelength that is absorbed by tissue of the body portion of the patient to which a photosensitizer has been applied, the body portion of the patient being afflicted by a medical condition. The application of the treatment laser to the body portion of a patient using the painting technique treats the medical condition, reduces the symptoms associated with the medical condition, and/or alleviates the medical condition.

A method for modifying a refractive property of ocular tissue in an eye by creating at least one optically-modified gradient index (GRIN) layer in the corneal stroma and/or the crystalline by continuously scanning a continuous stream of laser pulses having a focal volume from a laser having a known average power along a continuous line having a smoothly changing refractive index within the tissue, and varying either or both of the scan speed and the laser average power during the scan. The method may further involve determining a desired vision correction adjustment, and determining a position, number, and design parameters of gradient index (GRIN) layers to be created within the ocular tissue to provide the desired vision correction.

Described refractive correctors, include, but are not limited to, intraocular lenses (IOLs), contact lenses, corneal inlays, and other optical components or devices, incorporating a continuous central phase zone and peripheral phase discontinuities. Further embodiments are directed to a method for using a laser to modify the refractive properties of refractive correctors to form such continuous central phase zone and peripheral phase discontinuities, and other applications. The refractive corrector and methods adapt a Fresnel lens structure to include continuous phase retarding regions having a wavefront height of greater than one design wavelength in a central zone of a refractive corrector to improve human vision applications, while maintaining benefits of phase wrapping in the peripheral region.

A system for forming a corneal implant includes a cutting apparatus, which includes a laser source that emits a laser and optical elements that direct the laser. The system includes a controller implemented with at least one processor and at least one data storage device. The controller generates a sculpting plan for modifying a first shape of a lenticule formed from corneal tissue and achieving a second shape for the lenticule to produce a corneal implant with a refractive profile to reshape a recipient eye. The sculpting plan is determined from measurements relating to the lenticule having the first shape and information relating to a refractive profile for a corneal implant. The controller controls the cutting apparatus to direct, via the one or more optical elements, the laser from the laser source to sculpt the lenticule according to the sculpting plan to produce the corneal implant with the refractive profile.

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.

Refractive index writing system and methods employing a pulsed laser source for providing a pulsed laser output at a first wavelength; an objective lens for focusing the pulsed laser output to a focal spot in an optical material; a scanner for relatively moving the focal spot with respect to the optical material at a relative speed and direction along a scan region for writing one or more traces in the optical material defined by a change in refractive index; and a controller for controlling laser exposures along the one or more traces in accordance with a calibration function for the optical material to achieve a desired refractive index profile in the optical material. The refractive index writing system may be for writing traces in in vivo optical tissue, and the controller may be configured with a calibration function obtained by calibrating refractive index change induced in enucleated ocular globes. A real-time process control monitor for detecting emissions from the optical material transmitted through the objective lens at a second wavelength may further be employed while writing the one or more traces.

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.

An apparatus (200, 200A, 200B, 200C) has central lens body (212, 212A, 212B, 212C) for providing vision correction for a patient. The lens body (212, 212A, 212B, 212C) has an initial index of refraction and is formed from at least one material configured to have a second index of refraction when subjected to a laser and/or radiation.