Method for intrastromal photodisruption of dome-shaped surfaces

1. A method for photodisrupting a surface in the stroma of an eye, at a substantially constant distance from the anterior surface of the eye, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a frame of reference for the eye, wherein the frame of reference includes an axis of rotation;

positioning the focal point of a laser beam in the stroma at a radial distance from the axis of rotation;

photodisrupting tissue at the focal point to create a bubble having a diameter “d”;

rotating the focal point about the axis of rotation through an arc length substantially equal to “d” to repeat the photodisrupting step; and

decreasing the distance of the focal point from the axis of rotation, at a rate substantially equal to the distance “d” per revolution, during the rotating step.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of moving the focal point in a direction substantially parallel to the axis during the rotating step.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the rotating, decreasing and moving steps are accomplished using a laser scanner configured to contemporaneously scan a focal point in three mutually orthogonal directions.

4. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the focal point is moved toward the anterior surface of the eye during the moving step.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing a contact lens formed with an anterior surface and a posterior surface, with the posterior surface having a radius of curvature, R; and

engaging the cornea with the contact lens to conform the anterior surface thereof with the posterior surface of the contact lens.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the radius of curvature, R, of the posterior surface of the contact lens is in a range of between approximately 7.5 mm and approximately 11.0 mm.

7. A method for moving a laser beam focal point within the cornea of an eye to photodisrupt a pre-selected volume of corneal tissue, wherein the cornea has an anterior surface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a contact lens formed with an anterior surface and a posterior surface with the posterior surface having a radius of curvature, R;

engaging the contact lens with the cornea to conform the anterior surface thereof with the posterior surface of the contact lens;

identifying a set of coordinates for each of a plurality of locations within the cornea wherein a photodisruption at each location results in a photodisruption of the pre-selected volume

providing a laser system having a laser source, laser scanner and an optical element with a cutting lens;

generating a laser beam and sequentially directing the laser beam through the scanning system, the optical element and the contact lens to a focal point at one of the locations within the cornea;

calculating a sequence of laser scanner positions from input data for moving the focal point along a path within the cornea to photodisrupt corneal tissue at each of the identified coordinates, the input data including optical characteristics of the optical element for a plurality of beam paths therethrough; and

using the sequence of laser scanner positions to move the focal point of the laser beam along the path and photodisrupt the volume of tissue.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the pre-selected volume of corneal tissue is a substantially dome-shaped layer.

9. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the optical element comprises a plurality of lenses arranged as a telescope.

10. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the optical element comprises a mirror and a plurality of lenses arranged as a telescope.

11. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the identifying step comprises the steps of:

creating a planar pattern of locations; and

transforming the planar pattern into a non-planar pattern to obtain the identified coordinates.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the planar pattern of locations is formed as a spiral.

13. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the curvature, R, of the contact lens is used as an input to the transforming step.

14. A system for photodisrupting a surface in the stroma of an eye, at a substantially constant distance from the anterior surface of the eye, the eye establishing a frame of reference which includes an axis of rotation, the system comprising:

a contact lens formed with an anterior surface and a posterior surface, with the posterior surface having a radius of curvature, R, the contact lens for engaging the cornea to conform the anterior surface thereof with the posterior surface of the contact lens;

a means for positioning the focal point of a laser beam in the stroma at a radial distance from the axis of rotation;

a means for photodisrupting tissue at the focal point to create a bubble having a diameter “d”; and

a means for rotating the focal point about the axis of rotation through an arc length substantially equal to “d” while decreasing the distance of the focal point from the axis of rotation, at a rate substantially equal to the distance “d” per revolution.

15. A system as recited in claim 14 further comprising a means for moving the focal point in a direction substantially parallel to the axis during rotation of the focal point about the axis of rotation.

16. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein the rotating means and the moving means comprise a laser scanner configured to scan a focal point in three mutually orthogonal directions.

17. A system as recited in claim 14 wherein the moving means moves the focal point toward the anterior surface of the eye.

18. A system as recited in claim 14 wherein the radius of curvature, R, of the posterior surface of the contact lens is in a range of between approximately 7.5 mm and approximately 11.0 mm.