Method for removing cataractous material

A method for removing cataractous lens tissue from the lens capsule of an eye having a posterior capsule and an anterior capsule which comprises the steps of:

• distancing the focal point of a cutting laser beam, in an anterior direction from the posterior capsule of the lens, to make series of incisions in the posterior cortex layer of the lens;
• referencing previously incised portions of the lens to make additional incisions in the cortex and nucleus of the lens to liquify the lens tissue;
• and
• aspirating the liquified lens tissue from the lens capsule.

A laser phacofragmentation method for removing cataractous tissue from the lens of an eye having a posterior capsule and an anterior capsule using an ophthalmic laser apparatus which comprises the steps of:

• a) locating the cross-over of a double He-Ne light beam onto the posterior capsule of the eye, the focal point of a cutting laser beam being coincident with the cross-over;
• b) withdrawing the cross-over in an anterior direction approximately 100 um from the posterior capsule to position the cross-over at a start point in the lens tissue adjacent the posterior capsule;
• c) moving the focal point of the cutting laser beam (i.e. cross-over) along a path, which begins at the start point, to make an incision into the lens tissue which is approximately 2 mm in length, approximately 500 um in depth (measured anteriorly from the start point), and which is curved with an anterior radius of curvature of approximately 6 mm;
• d) repeating steps a) and b) to reposition the focal point of the cutting laser beam at a new start point which is substantially adjacent the immediately preceding start point;
• e) repeating step c) to make an incision which is substantially parallel to the immediately preceding incision;
• f) repeating steps d) and e), as desired and necessary, to vaporize and liquefy a layer of lens tissue;
• g) focusing the cutting laser beam at a start point on the previously liquified layer of lens tissue;
• h) moving the focal point of the cutting beam along a path, which begins at the start point, to make an incision into the lens tissue which is approximately two millimeters (2 mm) in length and approximately five hundred microns (500 um) in depth;
• i) repeating steps g) and h), as necessary and desired to vaporize and liquefy a layer of lens tissue;
• and
• j) repeating step i, as desired, to vaporize and liquefy substantially all of the lens tissue.