Laser assisted cataract surgery methods and devices utilize one or more treatment laser beams to create a shaped opening in the anterior lens capsule of the eye when performing a capsulotomy procedure. The visual axis of the eye may be determined, during surgery for example, with a laser beam on which the patient is fixated. The capsulotomy may be centered on the identified visual axis. This enables the use of capsulotomy-centering IOLs centered on or in close proximity to the visual axis. The orientation of a toric IOL may be assessed during or after placement by observing the reflection from the back of the eye of a laser beam on which the patient is fixated.