The present disclosure provides a femtosecond laser docking apparatus that includes a suction cone, with an upper frusto-conical portion and lower spherical portion, and a suction ring, with a mechanical stop and at least one contact and sealing surface. The mechanical stop engages the spherical portion of the suction cone to prevent it from being lowered further toward an eye, in a z-direction, beyond the mechanical stop. This disclosure provides a system for femtosecond laser ophthalmic surgery that includes a suction cone, with an upper frusto-conical portion and lower spherical portion, and a suction ring. This disclosure further provides a method for docking a femtosecond laser that includes positioning a suction ring on an eye, lowering a suction cone toward the eye until it engages the mechanical stop of the suction ring, and applying suction to seal the suction cone to the suction ring by a contact and sealing surface.