[Imaging of laser thermokeratoplasty lesions by optical low coherence tomography and polarization microscopy after Sirius Red staining]

In-vivo response to free electron laser incision of the rabbit cornea

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

We analyzed the in vivo ocular response to corneal incisions made by Medical Free Electron Laser (MFEL) as a function of scan rate and incision depth. Additionally, we compared biomicroscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and light microscopy as ocular response diagnostic tools.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rabbit corneas were incised with pulsed MFEL radiation at 2.94 microm wavelength, scalpel incisions or focal cautery treatment were used as controls. The MFEL beam scan rate ranged from 0.2 to 1.0 mm/second. Ocular effects were monitored for 2 hours postoperatively using OCT and slit lamp examination. Ocular tissue was fixed for light microscopic examination.

RESULTS

Anterior chamber fibrin formation correlated with MFEL incision depth. Slower scan rates resulted in deeper incisions and greater fibrin formation. OCT was better than slit lamp biomicroscopy at identifying fibrin attachments. OCT and light microscopy proved to be excellent companion technologies.

CONCLUSIONS

Deep corneal incisions in the rabbit produced by the MFEL resulted in fibrin formation in the anterior chamber.

Diode laser thermokeratoplasty: application strategy and dosimetry

PURPOSE

To investigate suitable application parameters for efficient hyperopic correction by laser thermokeratoplasty (LTK) using mid-infrared laser diodes.

SETTING

Medical Laser Center Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.

METHOD

A tunable continuous-wave laser diode in the spectral range between 1.845 and 1.871 microns was used. Transmitted by waveguides, the laser energy was used to induce coagulations on freshly enucleated porcine eyes to increase corneal curvature. The coagulations were equidistantly applied by a fiber-cornea contact and a noncontact focusing device that were adjusted on a ring concentric to the corneal apex. Different laser parameters and application geometries were evaluated. Refractive changes were measured by computer-assisted corneal topography before and after treatment. Polarization light microscopy and temperature calculations were used to analyze the coagulations.

RESULTS

Because of the tunability of the laser diode, the influence of the corneal absorption coefficient (between 0.9 and 1.6 mm-1) on the refractive change could be measured. A laser power between 125 and 200 mW was adequate to achieve refractive changes up to 10.0 diopters. In the preferable focusing device, the refractive change increased almost logarithmically with the irradiation time up to 15 seconds. The number of coagulations on a fixed application ring showed no significant influence on refractive change; however, it showed an almost linear decrease with increasing ring diameter from 5.0 to 10.0 mm. Histological analysis revealed 3 stages of thermal damage.

CONCLUSION

Diode LTK provided defined and uniform coagulations when using a well-adapted focusing device, resulting in sufficient refractive change. The results indicate that diode LTK is superior to pulsed holmium LTK.