A method for performing intrastromal ophthalmic laser surgery requiresLaser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) of stromal tissue withoutcompromising Bowman's capsule (membrane). In detail, the method createscuts in the stroma over all, or portions of, a plurality of concentriccylindricalsurfaces (circular or oval). Importantly, these cuts are all centered on thevisual axis of the patient's eye. In accordance with the present invention,cutscan be made either alone or in conjunction with the removal of predeterminedvolumes of stromal tissue. The actual location of cuts in the surgery willdepend on whether the treatment is for presbyopla, myopia, hyperopia orastigmatism.
