Embodiments of the present invention encompass systems and methods for customized vision treatments that account for effects associated with corneal flap creation.

A laser pulse energy control system which includes a laser source and a beam divider positioned to receive a calibration laser pulse produced by the laser source. The beam divider reflects a first portion of the calibration laser pulse along a first optical path toward a first plane and transmits a second portion of the calibration laser pulse along a second optical path toward a second plane. An energy meter determines an energy of the first portion of the calibration laser pulse at the first plane and a fluence profiler determines a fluence profile of the second portion of the calibration laser pulse at the second plane. The processor controls an energy of an ablation laser pulse produced by the laser source based on the fluence profile of the second portion of the calibration laser pulse and the energy of the first portion of the calibration laser pulse.

Systems and methods for removing an epithelial layer disposed over a stromal layer in a cornea irradiate a region of the epithelial layer with a pulsed beam of ablative radiation. The ablative radiation is scanned to vary the location of the beam within the region in accordance with a pulse sequence. The pulse sequence is arranged to enhance optical feedback based on a tissue fluorescence of the epithelial layer. The penetration of the epithelial layer is detected in response to the optical feedback. The use of scanning with the pulse sequence arranged to enhance optical feedback allows large areas of the epithelium to be ablated such penetration of the epithelial layer can be detected.

Systems are provided for delivering a calibrated ultraviolet radiation pulse at a treatment plane during a laser-ablation treatment of a patient's eye. Exemplary systems include an ultraviolet radiation source, and a fluorescent plate positioned to receive an initial ultraviolet radiation pulse produced by the ultraviolet radiation source. The fluorescent plate generates a visible light pulse in response to the initial ultraviolet radiation pulse. Exemplary systems further include a photon detector positioned to receive the visible light pulse for generating an electrical signal in response to the visible light pulse, and a processing module configured to determine an energy of the initial ultraviolet radiation pulse based on an amplitude and a decay time of the electrical signal, determine an energy calibration signal based on the determined energy of the initial ultraviolet radiation pulse, and provide the energy calibration signal to the ultraviolet radiation source for producing the calibrated ultraviolet radiation pulse.

Methods and systems wherein laser induced refractive index changes by focused femtosecond laser pulses in optical tissues is performed in combination with corneal lenticular surgery to achieve overall desired vision corrections.

The disclosure provides a method for correcting higher-order aberrations including providing a laser radiation. The method also includes controlling a location of a beam focal point of the laser radiation by a system of scanners and guiding the beam focal point in such a way that the location of the beam focal point is in a cornea of an eye. The method further includes introducing the laser radiation into the cornea of the eye. The method includes cutting a lenslet, wherein a thickness of the lenslet t(X,Y) satisfies a following equation: t(X,Y)=t.sub.0+t(X,Y)/(n1), where t(X,Y) represents a higher-order wavefront elevation and t.sub.0 represents the thickness of the lenslet having a spherical refractive power of D.

Embodiments of this invention generally relate to ophthalmic laser procedures and, more particularly, to systems and methods for lenticular laser incision. In an embodiment, an ophthalmic surgical laser system comprises a laser delivery system for delivering a pulsed laser beam to a target in a subject's eye, an XY-scan device to deflect the pulsed laser beam, a Z-scan device to modify a depth of a focus of the pulsed laser beam, and a controller configured to form a top lenticular incision and a bottom lenticular incision of a lens in the subject's eye, or just a bottom lenticular incision.

The invention relates to a method for providing control data for an ophthalmological laser (12) of a treatment apparatus (10). By a control device (18), determining (S10) corneal parameters of an anterior surface (24) of a cornea (16) from predetermined examination data; determining (S12) an epithelial map of an epithelial layer (26) of the cornea (16) from the predetermined examination data, wherein a thickness of the epithelial layer (26) is provided in the epithelial map; calculating (S14) a stromal wavefront map depending on the determined corneal parameters of the anterior surface (24) of the cornea and the determined epithelial map; determining (S16) correction data for correcting a visual disorder based on the stromal wavefront map; and providing (S18) the control data, which includes the correction data determined based on the stromal wavefront map are effected.

Systems and methods for removing an epithelial layer disposed over a stromal layer in a cornea irradiate a region of the epithelial layer with a pulsed beam of ablative radiation. The ablative radiation is scanned to vary the location of the beam within the region in accordance with a pulse sequence. The pulse sequence is arranged to enhance optical feedback based on a tissue fluorescence of the epithelial layer. The penetration of the epithelial layer is detected in response to the optical feedback. The use of scanning with the pulse sequence arranged to enhance optical feedback allows large areas of the epithelium to be ablated such penetration of the epithelial layer can be detected.

Deconvolution systems and methods based on cornea smoothing can be used to obtain an ablation target or treatment shape that does not induce significant high order aberrations such as spherical aberration. Exemplary ablation targets or treatment shapes can provide a post-operative spherical aberration that is equal to or below a naturally occurring amount of spherical aberration.