Multiple pulse thresholds in live eyes for ultrashort laser pulses in the near-infrared

Damage thresholds using multiple laser pulses to produce minimum visible lesions (MVL) in rhesus monkey eyes are reported for near-infrared (800 nm) at 130 femtoseconds. Previous studies by our research group using single pulses in the near-infrared (1060 nm) have determined damage thresholds and retinal spot size dependence. We report the first multiple pulse damage thresholds using femtosecond pulses. MVL thresholds at 1 hour and 24 hours postexposure were determined for 1,100 and 1,000 pulses and we compare these with other reported multiple pulse thresholds. These new data will be added to the databank for retinal MVL's as a function of pulse repetition rate for this pulsewidth and a comparison will be made with the ANSI standard for multiple pulse exposures. Our measurements show that the retinal ED50 threshold/pulse in the paramacula decreases for increasing number of pulses. The MVL-ED50 at the threshold/pulse decreased by a factor of 4 (0.55 μJ to 0.13 μJ/pulse) for an increase from 1 to 100 pulses.

Duke Scholars

Author Cynthia Ann Toth Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery