Systems and methods are provided for in vivo pre-surgical characterization of lenses, such as cataractous lenses. A method comprises obtaining an electromagnetically-measured value related to the axial thickness of the lens, obtaining an ultrasound-measured value related to the axial thickness of the lens, calculating a relationship value based upon the electromagnetically-measured value and the ultrasound-measured value, and determining a mechanical property value based upon the calculated relationship value. The mechanical property may relate to lens hardness, rigidity, or density, or the amount of energy for a phacoemulsification procedure. A system may comprise an optical interferometer for measuring data to obtain the electromagnetically-measured value and an ultrasound biometer for measuring data to obtain the ultrasound-measured value.

A method for laser eye surgery that accommodates patient movement includes: generating a first and a second electromagnetic radiation beam, the second beam configured to modify eye tissue; propagating the first beam to a scanner along a an optical path length that changes in response to eye movement; focusing the first beam to a first focal point within the eye; scanning the first focal point at different locations within the eye; propagating a portion of the first beam reflected from the first focal point location back along the variable optical path to a sensor; generating an intensity signal indicative of the intensity of the portion of the reflected first beam; propagating the second beam to the scanner along the variable optical path; focusing the second beam to a second focal point and scanning the second focal point to create an incision in the cornea of the eye.

A UV-laser-based system (UVL-LVC system) for correcting the impaired vision of a patient's eye has a UV-laser source, which emits laser radiation to treat the patient's eye, and imaging optics for focusing the laser radiation onto the cornea of the patient's eye. The imaging optics allow a detection of a reflection of radiation, which is emitted onto the cornea of the patient's eye with the imaging optics and is at least partly reflected by the cornea of the patient's eye back into the imaging optics at an acceptance angle χ.sub.Max of at least 2.5°. Additionally a method for centering a UVL-LVC system is disclosed.

A laser eye surgery system includes a laser to generate a laser beam. A spatial measurement system generates a measurement beam and measure a spatial disposition of an eye. A processor is coupled to the laser and the spatial measurement system, the processor comprising a tangible medium embodying instructions to determine a spatial model of the eye in an eye coordinate reference system based on the measurement beam. The spatial model is mapped from the eye coordinate reference system to a machine coordinate reference system. A laser fragmentation pattern is determined based on a plurality of laser fragmentation parameters. The laser fragmentation pattern and the spatial model is rotated by a first rotation angle such that the spatial model is aligned with the reference axis of the machine coordinate reference system and the rotated laser fragmentation pattern is aligned with the corneal incision.

A system for short pulse laser eye surgery and a short pulse laser system, in which a beam guidance device passes through a corresponding articulated arm, and through an applicator head and a microscope head of the system, which is movable in a three-dimensional volume both independently of one another as well as connected to each other. The system also includes, an easy-to-use patient interface with a one-piece contact element, a computer program product for methods of the incision guidance and sequentially operating referencing methods with patient interfaces containing markings.

A measurement apparatus for measuring a laser focus spot size, which includes a two-dimensional image detector and an imaging system which forms a magnified image of a focus spot located an object plane onto the image detector. The imaging system includes at least an objective lens. A sealed liquid container is secured over a part of the objective lens such as the optical surface of the objective lens is immersed in the liquid (e.g. water) within the container. The liquid container has a window through which the laser beam enters. An image processing method is also disclosed which processes the image obtained by the image detector to obtain the focus spot size while implementing an algorithm that corrects for the effect of ambient vibration.

A first optical subsystem includes a window with a refractive index n.sub.w and an exit lens having a refractive index n.sub.x. The exit lens is configured to couple to the window to define a first optical axis extending through the window and the exit lens. A second optical subsystem is configured to output a light beam. The light beam is directed to be incident at a convex surface of the exit lens along a second optical axis at an angle α that is offset from the first optical axis. The window is configured to detachably couple to the cornea of the eye such that the first optical axis is generally aligned with a direction of view of the eye. The respective refractive indices n.sub.w and n.sub.x are configured to direct the light beam incident at the convex surface of the exit lens through the cornea of the eye toward the irido-corneal angle.

A look-up table for use in determining an energy parameter for photodisrupting ocular tissue with a laser is generated by determining a plurality of individual spot size distributions, wherein each of the plurality of individual spot size distributions is based on a different set of simulated data and includes an expected spot size of a laser focus at each of a plurality of locations within a modeled target volume of ocular tissue. The plurality of individual spot size distributions are combined to obtain a final spot size distribution that includes a final expected spot size of the laser focus at the plurality of locations of the focus within the modeled target volume of ocular tissue. An energy value is assigned to the plurality of locations of the focus within the modeled target volume of ocular tissue based on the final expected spot size at that location.

A test device to calibrate the pulse energy of a laser device which provides pulsed laser radiation includes a measuring head with multiple measuring probes. The test device is used in such a way that by means of the laser radiation, multiple test ablations are made on a test surface, in an arrangement corresponding to the relative spatial arrangement of the measuring probes, and the depths of the test ablations are then measured, with simultaneous use of the multiple measuring probes of the measuring head.

The invention provides an excimer laser system including a means for calibrating laser output to compensate for increased variation in laser optical fibers.