Patent ID: 8500724

Claim:
A method for laser cataract surgery that protects the retina of the eye from laser exposure, comprising: a. generating, using a computer, an image of at least a portion of a crystalline lens of the eye based on detecting remitted light from locations distributed throughout a volume of the crystalline lens; b. processing data including the image data so as to determine a targeted treatment region in the lens of the eye, wherein the targeted treatment region comprises an axially-elongated cutting zone transecting the anterior capsule and does not transect the posterior capsule of the lens; c. directing a laser beam, under computer guided control, in a first pattern to photodisrupt at least a portion of lens tissue of the eye to create a light scattering region; and d. subsequently directing the laser beam, under computer guided control, in a second pattern in lens tissue anterior to the light scattering region so as to photodisrupt at least a portion of the targeted region, thereby effecting patterned laser cutting of lens tissue for subsequent removal of pieces or segments of lens tissue.