Title :
Ablation of the cornea and synthetic polymers using a UV (213 nm) solid-state laser
Author :
Ren, Qiushi ; Gailitis, Raymond P. ; Thompson, Keith P. ; Lin, J.T.
Author_Institution :
Ophthalmic Laser Res. Lab., Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA, USA
fDate :
12/1/1990 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A study is made of photoablation of the porcine cornea and synthetic collagen with 213-nm radiation generated by the fifth harmonic from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The new nonlinear crystals, beta barium borate (BBO), with specific angle cutting were used to optimize the fifth-harmonic generation (213 nm). For comparison purposes, the above materials were also ablated by 266-nm (fourth-harmonic) laser radiation. Light and electron microscopy demonstrated that the damage zones created by 213- and 266-nm radiation are <1 and 15 μm, respectively. The ablation similarity between 193 and 213 nm opens major opportunities for the development of a new corneal sculpting system based on solid-state laser technology which will overcome difficulties associated with excimer lasers
Keywords :
eye; laser applications in medicine; neodymium; optical harmonic generation; solid lasers; surgery; 213 nm; 266 nm; Q-switched Nd:YAG laser; UV solid state laser; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; beta BaB2O4; corneal sculpting system; damage zones; electron microscopy; fifth harmonic; fourth-harmonic; light microscopy; nonlinear crystals; photoablation; porcine cornea; solid-state laser technology; specific angle cutting; synthetic collagen; synthetic polymers; Barium; Cornea; Crystalline materials; Crystals; Laser ablation; Laser beam cutting; Optical harmonic generation; Optical materials; Polymers; Solid lasers;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
