Systems and methods for improving vision of a subject implanted with an intraocular lens (IOL). In some embodiments, a method includes determining a deviation in position of at least one optical element from a reference line corresponding to alignment of the apex of the cornea, center of the pupil, center of the IOL, and fovea, and/or determining a tilt of at least one of the optical elements relative to the reference line. The method can further include applying a plurality of focused laser pulses to a selected area of the implanted IOL to produce, through refractive index writing, a phase change pattern on the IOL that is configured to compensate for the deviation(s) and/or tilt to improve the foveal vision of the subject.

Additive manufacturing techniques are used to form an artificial intra-ocular lens (IOL) directly inside the human eye. Small openings are formed in the cornea and lens capsule of the eye, and the crystalline lens is broken up and removed through the openings; then, a material is injected into the lens capsule through the openings, and the focal spot of a pulse laser beam is scanned in a defined pattern in the lens capsule, to transform the material in the vicinity of the lase focal spot to form the IOL in a layer-by-layer manner. In one embodiment, stereolithography techniques are used where a pulse UV laser source is used to photosolidify a photopolymer resin. The liquefied resin is injected into the eye through the openings, after which only part of the resin, having the shape of the desired IOL, is selectively cured with the UV laser beam, via progressive layer formation.

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.

A method of treating a cataractous lens of a patient's eye includes generating a light beam, deflecting the light beam using a scanner to form a treatment pattern, delivering the treatment pattern to the lens of the patient's eye to create a plurality of cuts in the form two or more different incisions patterns within the lens to segment the lens tissue into a plurality of patterned pieces, and mechanically breaking the lens into a plurality of pieces along the cuts. A first incision pattern includes two or more crossing cut incision planes. A second incision pattern includes a plurality of laser incision each extending along a first length between a posterior and an anterior surface of the lens capsule.

Methods for treating presbyopia in a patient's eye involve inducing spherical aberration in a central area of the pupil. In embodiments, refractive properties of an eye are measured to obtain a baseline refractive correction. A lens for wearing on the eye is provided, or an optical device is implanted in the eye, or corneal tissue is removed to create spherical aberration or a distribution of spherical aberrations beyond the baseline refractive correction in the central area of the pupil. The central area of the pupil has a diameter of between 1.5 mm and 4.0 mm and has negligible spherical aberration without the treatment.

A system and method for inserting an intraocular lens in a patient's eye includes a light source for generating a light beam, a scanner for deflecting the light beam to form an enclosed treatment pattern that includes a registration feature, and a delivery system for delivering the enclosed treatment pattern to target tissue in the patient's eye to form an enclosed incision therein having the registration feature. An intraocular lens is placed within the enclosed incision, wherein the intraocular lens has a registration feature that engages with the registration feature of the enclosed incision. Alternately, the scanner can make a separate registration incision for a post that is connected to the intraocular lens via a strut member.

A method for treating hyperopia or presbyopia in a patient, the method comprising making a cut deep in the patient's cornea to create a two-dimensional slit adjacent to and generally parallel to an anterior surface of the cornea and injecting a liquid or semi-solid transparent filler material into the deep cut in an amount sufficient to flatten the posterior surface of the cornea to increase the refractive power of the cornea by a predetermined correction of up to about 5 diopters due to the physical flattening of the posterior surface of the cornea, wherein the transparent filler material comprises a refractive index of about 1.3 to about 1.6, and forms a corneal implant with a lenticular shape within the cornea.

A method of treating a lens of a patient's eye includes generating a light beam, deflecting the light beam using a scanner to form a treatment pattern of the light beam, delivering the treatment pattern to the lens of a patient's eye to create a plurality of cuts in the lens in the form of the treatment pattern to break the lens up into a plurality of pieces, and removing the lens pieces from the patient's eye. The lens pieces can then be mechanically removed. The light beam can be used to create larger segmenting cuts into the lens, as well as smaller softening cuts that soften the lens for easier removal.

A scanning system for treating target tissue in a patient's eye includes an ultrafast laser source configured to deliver a laser beam comprising a plurality of laser pulses; an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) device configured to generate signals which may be used to create an image of the cornea and limbus of the eye of the patient; a scanner configured to focus and direct the laser beam in a pattern within the cornea or limbus to create incisions therein; and a controller operatively coupled to the laser source and scanner configured to control the scanner to adjust the position of the laser beam based upon the signals from the OCT device to create a cataract incision in the cornea or limbus that provides access for lens removal instrumentation to a crystalline lens of the patient's eye, and a relaxation incision in the cornea or limbus.

Additive manufacturing techniques are used to form an artificial intra-ocular lens (IOL) directly inside the human eye. Small openings are formed in the cornea and lens capsule of the eye, and the crystalline lens is broken up and removed through the openings; then, a material is injected into the lens capsule through the openings, and the focal spot of a pulse laser beam is scanned in a defined pattern in the lens capsule, to transform the material in the vicinity of the laser focal spot to form the IOL in a layer-by-layer manner. In one embodiment, stereolithography techniques are used where a pulse UV laser source is used to photosolidify a photopolymer resin. The liquefied resin is injected into the eye through the openings, after which only part of the resin, having the shape of the desired IOL, is selectively cured with the UV laser beam, via progressive layer formation.