A method for laser treatment of the eye using one or more diffractive optical elements for producing unique treatment segments within an ablation zone on the eye. The treatment segments may be annular, pie-shaped, or have other geometries or patterns selected to apply energy in a particular manner, usually in a non-overlapping manner so that energy dosages can be precisely controlled. In a first embodiment of the method, a single diffractive optical element is used and a beam expander expands or converges the beam to achieve the different treatment segments. In a second embodiment, a plurality of diffractive optical elements are used, each of which produces a single treatment segment.