title: Determination of an appropriate laser setting for THC-YAG laser sclerostomy ab externo in rabbits.
abstract: To determine an appropriate setting for the THC-YAG laser (chromium-sensitized, thulium, and holmiumdoped YAG laser), we performed sclerostomy ab externo on 24 pigmented rabbits. The laser energy was delivered via a subconjunctivally-inserted fiberoptic probe that was placed at the limbus through a small conjunctival incision. We used four pulse-energy levels to perform the sclerostomies: 80 mJ, 120 mJ, 160 mJ, and 200 mJ. At all these levels, a new outflow pathway was easily created, a filtering bleb was formed, and intraocular pressure (IOP) was immediately reduced. Severe tissue damage around the sclerostomy site occurred with the 160-millijoule and 200-millijoule pulses. The 80-millijoule pulse created a relatively small patent sclerostomy, providing only relatively brief IOP reduction. We conclude that 120-millijoule is the most appropriate laser-pulse energy for use in pigmented rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Onda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jikihara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitazawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honbe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ando
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism; D003228:Conjunctiva; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005402:Fistula; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011817:Rabbits; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012599:Sclerostomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome