Semiconductor laser endophotocoagulation of the retina
C. A. Puliafito, T. F. Deutsch, J. Boll and K. To
Laser endophotocoagulation is an important technique in vitreoretinal
surgery. We performed successful retinal endophotocoagulation in the eyes
of Dutch-belted rabbits, using high-power phased-array semiconductor
lasers, emitting at 808 and 817 nm. The laser itself measured 25 X 30 X 21
mm, was air cooled, and was portable. At a treatment power of 100 mW,
uniformly white photocoagulation lesions were seen at exposure durations of
0.2 to 1.0 s. Lesions were similar in appearance to argon laser
photocoagulation lesions, as determined by ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein
angiography. Thin-section histologic examination of acute lesions revealed
injury localized to the outer retina; chorioretinal scar formation was
noted ten days after photocoagulation. To our knowledge, this study is the
first in which therapeutically useful lesions were produced using a diode
laser and demonstrates the feasibility of using these highly efficient and
compact laser sources for ophthalmic photocoagulation.
