Solid-State Ultraviolet-Laser (213 Nm) Ablation Of The Cornea And Synthetic Collagen Lenticules

    Authors

    R. P. Gaillitis; Q. S. Ren; K. P. Thompson; J. T. Lin;G. O. Waring

    Comments

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    Keywords

    Collagen; Excimer Lasers; Nonlinear Optical Crystals; Refractive Surgery; Excimer Laser; Keratectomy; Eye; Surgery

    Abstract

    We used a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with non-linear optical crystals to produce the 5th (213 nm) and the 4th (266 nm) harmonic frequencies. Using these two wavelengths, we ablated fresh porcine corneas and type I collagen synthetic epikeratoplasty lenticules. For the 213-nm ablation, radiant exposure was 1.3 J/cm2. The ablation rate was 0.23-mu-m per pulse for the epikeratoplasty lenticules. We examined all tissues with light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Histology for the 213-nm ablation showed a clean ablation crater with minimal collagen lamellae disruption and a damage zone less than 1-mu-m. In comparison, the 266 nm radiation showed more charring at the edges with a damage zone approximately 25-mu-m deep with disruption of the stromal lamella. Our results show that this solid state UV laser is a potential alternative to the excimer laser for cornea surgery.

    Journal Title

    Lasers in Surgery and Medicine

    Volume

    11

    Issue/Number

    6

    Publication Date

    1-1-1991

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    556

    Last Page

    562

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:A1991GR70300009

    ISSN

    0196-8092

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