ABSTRACT
Photodisruption is a nonlinear procedure of tissue processing, which is—in contrast, for example, to photoablation—independent from the wavelength of the laser radiation. Only nonlinear absorption enables three dimensional (3D) tissue processing inside the medium since the laser radiation is not absorbed at the tissue surface directly by linear absorption. Ophthalmic femtosecond lasers enable safe surgery and short healing times because they can process tissue within a 3D space without altering its surface. The success of this platform in refractive and cataract surgery is based on two unique characteristics: the nonlinear absorption process and extremely high precision and low side effects. Any electromagnetic energy transport through material involves the absorption and reemission of wave energy by the atoms or molecules of the material. The absorption of energy causes the electrons within the atom to oscillate. After a short period of oscillation, the electron generates a new electromagnetic wave with the same frequency and direction as the incoming electromagnetic wave.
