Laser Eye Treatment
1. A method for surgical treatment of the eye by laser radiation comprising the steps of:
(a) passing one end of a fiberoptic element through a small perforation in an outermost encapsulating tissue of the eyeball until said one end of said fiberoptic element penetrates into the eye's anterior chamber,
(b) transocularly advancing said one end of the fiberoptic element through the said anterior chamber until the penetrating end of said fiberoptic element is juxtaposed immediately adjacent targeted eye tissue to be treated,
(c) coupling the opposite end of said fiberoptic element to a photoablative laser emitting radiation selected from the class consisting of (1) ultraviolet excimer radiation having a wave length of between about 193 to 351 nanometers and (2) infrared radiation having a wave length of about 2.8 to 3.0 microns and at a fluence level sufficient to produce photochemical tissue ablation and focussing the radiation being emitted from the penetrating end of the transocularly-positioned fiberoptic element upon the targeted tissue, and
(d) subjecting the adjacent targeted tissue to ablative photodecomposition from the radiation while maintaining juxtaposition of the penetrating end of said fiberoptic element to effect photochemical removal of said targeted tissue.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the targeted tissue is intermediate an irido-corneal angle area of the eye at a level of trabecular meshwork tissue thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue targeted for treatment is cataractous lens tissue.
4. The method of claim 1 including the step of aspirating and venting the anterior chamber to remove photodecomposed materials therein and irrigating said chamber in replacement of fluids aspirated therefrom.
5. A method for surgical treatment of the eye by laser radiation comprising the steps of:
(a) passing one end of a fiberoptic element through a small perforation in an outermost encapsulating tissue of the eyeball thereof adjacent a limbal portion of the cornea-sclera until said one end of said fiberoptic element penetrates into the anterior chamber of the eye,
(b) transocularly advancing said one end of the fiberoptic element through the said anterior chamber until the penetrating end of said element is juxtaposed immediately adjacent eye tissue targeted for treatment,
(c) coupling the opposite end of said fiberoptic element to a photoablative laser emitting photochemical radiation above an ablative threshold fluence level to effect photochemical tissue interaction of photochemical ablation and focussing the radiation being emitted from the penetrating end of the transocularly-positioned fiberoptic element upon the targeted tissue, and
(d) then while juxtaposing the penetrating end of the fiberoptic element with the target tissue subjecting the said targeted tissue to photochemical ablative photodecomposition from the radiation being delivered through the fiberoptic element to effect photochemical removal of said targeted tissue.