A system and method are provided for an ophthalmic surgical procedure to provide a refractive correction for an eye. Specifically, the procedure is indicated when the desired refractive correction “dreqd” exceeds the capability of a correction achievable when corneal tissue is only ablated. In accordance with the present invention, an optimized refractive correction “d1” is accomplished by the ablation of corneal tissue (e.g. by a PRK or LASIK procedure). The optimized correction is then followed by a complementary refractive correction “d2” wherein stromal tissue is weakened with Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB). Together, the optimized refractive correction (ablation) and the complementary refractive correction (LIOB) equal the desire refractive correction (dreqd=d1+d2).
