A method for cataract surgery on an eye of a patient includes scanning a first focus position of a first pulsed laser beam at a first pulse energy of between one-half microjoule and 50 microjoules in a first scanning pattern to photodisrupt a first tissue structure portion with a plurality of pulses of the first laser beam to form an incised surface; and afterwards, scanning a second focus position of a second pulsed laser beam having a second pulse energy being between 50 microjoules and 5,000 microjoules in a second scanning pattern that is co-registered to the first scanning pattern to further photodisrupt the same first tissue structure portion with the second laser beam to further separate segments of the first tissue structure along the incised surface.