A method of phacoemulsification includes dissecting a lens tissue of an eye into lens fragments, opening an anterior capsule of the lens of the eye, and placing an access incision in the eye using a femto- or picosecond laser. The method further includes subsequently aspirating lens fragments through the access incision. Lens fragments that impede aspiration due to their size are disintegrated using an ablating laser, and the disintegrated fragments are subsequently aspirated.
