Excimer laser instrumentation and technique for human corneal surgery
F. A. L'Esperance Jr, J. W. Warner, W. B. Telfair, P. R. Yoder Jr and C. A. Martin
Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
The design and development of the instrumentation utilized during the
clinical and histopathologic evaluations of the first human eyes treated by
argon fluoride excimer laser radiation are described. The laser, optical,
alignment, measurement, and control subsystems required for this research
were constructed to create a laser beam that has an axially symmetric
energy distribution, can be calibrated and measured, can be aligned with
the target tissue, and can be manipulated to excise surface tissue. The use
of this excimer laser system has demonstrated that a nonuniform superficial
lamellar keratectomy can be produced to excise areas of opacified, scarred,
or abnormal cornea or to create a new anterior corneal curvature in
attempts to correct refractive errors.
