System and apparatus for delivering a laser beam to the lens of an eye

A system for treating conditions of the crystalline lens of an eye comprising:

• a laser for providing a laser beam, the beam being of sufficient power to cut tissue of the crystalline lens via photodisruption and provide therapeutic effects on the tissue of the crystalline lens;
• an attenuator;
• the attenuator positionable between a first and a second position, wherein the first position is on a path of the beam and the second position is out of the path of the beam;
• laser focusing optics;
• a scanner;
• a control system for directing the laser beam to the tissue with the scanner and the focusing optics;
• and
• a range determination system to determine a relative distance with respect to a portion of the crystalline lens;
• wherein when the attenuator is in the first position it does not reduce the power of the beam below therapeutic effectiveness and when the attenuator is in the second position it does reduce the power of the beam below therapeutic effectiveness such that the beam does not cut the crystalline lens tissue, while still having sufficient power to be used for range determinations.