Described is an eye treatment device having a radiation source, the light emitted by the radiation source having such a wavelength range that it brings about a reaction in a treatment region of an eye and is absorbed, at least partially, in at least one of the regions located behind same in the direction of the retina that are in front of the retina. The light emitted by the radiation source can have a wavelength range in which the treatment region is partially transmissive. The treatment region can be the cornea. The reaction brought about in the treatment region by the light can be an ablation of tissue. The reaction brought about in the treatment region by the light can also be a laser-induced optical perforation of tissue, which is also referred to as photo-disruption. The radiation source can be a laser source. The wavelength range of the light emitted by the radiation source is approximately 1600 nm to approximately 1700 nm, preferably approximately 1625 nm to approximately 1675 nm, most preferably approximately 1640 nm to approximately 1660 nm.