Laser assisted cataract surgery methods and devices utilizing one or more treatment laser beams to create a shaped opening in the anterior lens capsule of the eye when performing a capsulorrhexis procedure. A light absorbing agent may optionally be added onto or into the lens capsule tissue, and the treatment laser wavelength selected to be strongly absorbed by the light absorbing agent. Alternatively, the treatment laser wavelength may be selected to be absorbed or strongly absorbed by the tissue itself, in which case no additional light absorbing agent need be used. Visualization patterns produced with one or more target laser beams may be projected onto the lens capsule tissue to aid in the procedure. The devices may be attached to or integrated with microscopes.