A surgical laser system can include a laser source configured to generate a laser beam. The system can also include a scanning delivery system that can be configured to direct the laser beam to an ocular target region and scan the laser beam along a scan pattern in the ocular target region of an eye. The system can further include a system controller in communication with the scanning delivery system. The system controller can be configured to control the scanning delivery system to scan the laser beam along the scan pattern to create a pattern of cuts for relaxing ophthalmic tissue in the ocular target region. Each cut of the pattern of cuts can extend only partially through the ophthalmic tissue.
