S. Schumacher
M. Sander
C. Döpke
A. Gröne
W. Ertmer
H. Lubatschowski

Investigation of retinal damage during refractive eye surgery

SPIE Photonics West: BiOS
22.-27. Januar
San Jose
2005
Type: Konferenzbeitrag
Abstract
Ultrashort laser pulses are increasingly used in refractive eye surgery to cut inside transparent corneal tissue. This is exploited by the fs-LASIK procedure which affords the opportunity to correct ametropia without any mechanical effects. The cutting process is caused by the optical breakdown occurring in the laser focus. During this process only a certain amount of the pulse energy is deposited into the tissue. The remaining pulse energy propagates further through the eye and interacts with the retina and the strong absorbing tissue layers behind. Therefore this investigation shall clarify if the intensity of the remaining laser pulse and the resulting temperature field can damage the retina and the surrounding tissue. Threshold values of the retinal tissue and theoretical calculations of the temperature field will be presented.