An ophthalmic surgical laser system comprising: a laser system configured to generate a laser beam; focusing optics configured to focus the laser beam to a focal point; an xy-scan device configured to move the focal point of the laser beam in lateral directions; a z-scan device configured to move a depth of the focal point of the laser beam; and a backscatter capture device configured to capture backscatter from the focal point of the laser beam; a controller operably coupled with the laser system, the xy-scan device, the z-scan device, and the backscatter capture device, wherein the controller is configured to: control the laser system to generate a first laser beam having a power below a photo disruption threshold for the eye; control the z-scan device to direct a focal point of the first laser beam within a patient's eye at various depths starting at an interior side of a cornea of the eye and moving in a depth direction through the cornea to an exterior side of the cornea; control the backscatter capture device to capture backscatter from the laser as the laser focal point moves in the depth direction from the interior side of the cornea to the exterior side of the cornea; record a power of the captured backscatter as the focal point moves in the depth direction from the interior side of the cornea to the exterior side of the cornea; identify peaks of the recorded power; determine a corneal thickness based on the identified peaks, and determine an incision depth based on the determined corneal thickness; control the laser system to generate a second laser beam having a power above a photo disruption threshold for the eye; and control the xy-scan device and the z-scan device to direct a focal point of the second laser beam within the eye to incise the cornea at the incision depth. focusing optics configured to focus the laser beam to a focal point; an xy-scan device configured to move the focal point of the laser beam in lateral directions; a z-scan device configured to move a depth of the focal point of the laser beam; and a backscatter capture device configured to capture backscatter from the focal point of the laser beam; a controller operably coupled with the laser system, the xy-scan device, the z-scan device, and the backscatter capture device, wherein the controller is configured to: control the laser system to generate a first laser beam having a power below a photo disruption threshold for the eye; control the z-scan device to direct a focal point of the first laser beam within a patient's eye at various depths starting at an interior side of a cornea of the eye and moving in a depth direction through the cornea to an exterior side of the cornea; control the backscatter capture device to capture backscatter from the laser as the laser focal point moves in the depth direction from the interior side of the cornea to the exterior side of the cornea; record a power of the captured backscatter as the focal point moves in the depth direction from the interior side of the cornea to the exterior side of the cornea; identify peaks of the recorded power; determine a corneal thickness based on the identified peaks, and determine an incision depth based on the determined corneal thickness; control the laser system to generate a second laser beam having a power above a photo disruption threshold for the eye; and control the xy-scan device and the z-scan device to direct a focal point of the second laser beam within the eye to incise the cornea at the incision depth. control the laser system to generate a first laser beam having a power below a photo disruption threshold for the eye; control the z-scan device to direct a focal point of the first laser beam within a patient's eye at various depths starting at an interior side of a cornea of the eye and moving in a depth direction through the cornea to an exterior side of the cornea; control the backscatter capture device to capture backscatter from the laser as the laser focal point moves in the depth direction from the interior side of the cornea to the exterior side of the cornea; record a power of the captured backscatter as the focal point moves in the depth direction from the interior side of the cornea to the exterior side of the cornea; identify peaks of the recorded power; determine a corneal thickness based on the identified peaks, and determine an incision depth based on the determined corneal thickness; control the laser system to generate a second laser beam having a power above a photo disruption threshold for the eye; and control the xy-scan device and the z-scan device to direct a focal point of the second laser beam within the eye to incise the cornea at the incision depth.