Biological Applications and Effects of Optical Masers
Abstract
Research experiments and projects pertaining to the ocular hazards of lasers and other optical sources are reviewed and discussed in some detail. Early studies to determine threshold retinal damage in the rabbit from ruby and neodymium lasers are described and followed by more elaborate experiments with monkeys using the He:Ne laser. A comparison between threshold retinal lesions in human volunteers, monkeys and rabbits is given. Retinal damage in the rhesus monkey is evaluated in terms of visual acuity. Quantitative data on solar retinitis as determined in the rhesus monkey are provided and the effects of wavelength on light toxicity are evaluated for eight monochromatic laser lines. Experiments performed at Los Alamos to evaluate the ocular effects and hazards of picosecond and nanosecond pulses of radiation from CO2 and HF lasers are described. A list of published papers describing the above research is included. The HF laser effects on the rabbit cornea were very similar to those caused by exposure to the CO2 laser. The energy from the CO2 and HF lasers is completely absorbed in the superficial layers of the cornea, creating a sharp sonic or shock wave which can disrupt the epithelial cells but does not penetrate to the stroma, at least for levels of exposure used in these studies. If damage does not penetrate to the stroma the remarkable recuperative powers of the cornea are able to repair the injury.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 19, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA196462
Entities
People
- Dupont Guerry Iii
- Fred W. Schmidt
- Harold A. Mueller
- John J. Ruffolo Jr.
- Ray C. Williams
- Stephan F. Cleary
- Walter J. Geeraets
- William T. Ham Jr.
Organizations
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine