Abstract

Energy and power density damage thresholds were determined for the perforation of human aphakic pupillary membranes and intraocular lens (IOL) implants in vivo in patients treated at the focal point of Nd:YAG ophthalmic systems at 1064 nm which produced (a) Q-switched nanosecond pulses (TEM₀₀, pulse duration = 20 nsec) and (b) mode- locked picosecond pulse trains (TEM₀₀, 9-11 pulses, pulse duration = 30 psec, entire pulse train delivered in 50-60 nsec). Pulse energies bracketing the damage thresholds as well as focal diameter and pulse duration for each system were tabulated, and perforation of the pupillary membrane (hereafter referred to as perforation threshold) was calculated.

© 1985 Optical Society of America