Patent ID: 8118806

Claim:
A method of performing ophthalmic surgery, comprising: providing a laser system including: a laser source configured to generate a femtosecond laser beam having a wavelength between about 1000 nm and about 1200 nm; and a focusing lens in optical communication with the laser source, the focusing lens configured to focus the femtosecond laser beam into a focused femtosecond laser beam; providing an applanation lens having a planar surface configured to applanate an eye to be treated, the applanation lens having a transmission rate of at least 90% relative to the focused femtosecond laser beam and configured to introduce a wavefront error of at most about λ/10 to the focused femtosecond laser beam when the focused femtosecond laser beam passes through the applanation lens; positioning the applanation lens against the eye to be treated to applanate the eye; directing the focused femtosecond laser beam through the applanation lens and onto the eye, the applanation lens introducing a wavefront error of at most about λ/10 to the focused femtosecond laser beam such that the focused femtosecond laser beam has a region of focus within a cornea of the eye, the region of focus having a diameter of 15 μm or less; and repeating the directing step to successively direct the focused femtosecond laser beam having the region of focus with a diameter of 15 μm or less over a treatment region within the cornea of the eye to form an incision in the cornea.