Methods and systems for performing a posterior capsulotomy and for laser eye surgery with a penetrated cornea

Abstract

Method and apparatus for performing a laser-assisted posterior capsulotomy and for performing laser eye surgery on an eye having a penetrated cornea are provided. A method for performing a posterior capsulotomy includes injecting fluid between the lens posterior capsule and the anterior hyaloids membrane to separate the lens posterior capsule and the anterior hyaloids membrane. With the lens posterior capsule separated from the anterior hyaloids membrane, a posterior capsulotomy is performed on the lens posterior capsule by using a laser to incise the lens posterior capsule.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for performing laser eye surgery on an eye having a cornea, the method comprising:
 coupling an eye having a penetration through the cornea to a laser surgery system by using a liquid interface disposed between the cornea and the laser surgery system; and   forming one or more incisions in the eye by using the laser surgery system to transmit light through the liquid interface.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising forming the penetration through the cornea. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising inserting an iris expanding device through the penetration in the cornea. 
     
     
         15 . A system for performing laser-assisted cataract surgery on an eye having an anterior chamber, the system comprising:
 a laser configured to generate a laser beam comprising a plurality of laser pulses;   a scanning assembly configured to scan a focal point of the laser beam within the eye to incise eye tissue; and   a controller configured to scan the focal point to incise eye tissue so as to account for at least one optical characteristic of an OVD in the anterior chamber to determine one or more control parameters used to control scanning of the focal point.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an imaging device configured to generate output in response to imaging the eye, wherein the controller is configured to process output from the imaging device to determine dimensional attributes of the anterior chamber and use the dimensional attributes of the anterior chamber in conjunction with an index of refraction for the OVD disposed in the anterior chamber to operate the scanning assembly to scan the focal point to incise eye tissue so as to account for the at least one optical characteristic of the OVD. 
     
     
         17 . A method for performing laser-assisted cataract surgery on an eye having an anterior chamber, the method comprising:
 generating a laser beam comprising a plurality of pulses; and   scanning a focal point of the laser beam within the eye to incise tissue of the eye disposed posterior to the anterior chamber so as to account for at least one optical characteristic of an OVD disposed in the anterior chamber to determine one or more control parameters used to control scanning of the focal point.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the OVD has an index of refraction and the accounted for at least one optical characteristic of the OVD includes the index of refraction. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 processing output from an imaging device to determine dimensional attributes of the anterior chamber; and   using the dimensional attributes of the anterior chamber in conjunction with the index of refraction of the OVD to operate the scanning assembly to scan the focal point to incise eye tissue so as to account for the at least one optical characteristic of the OVD.   
     
     
         20 - 28 . (canceled)