title: Excimer laser corneal ablation: absence of a significant "incubation" effect.
abstract: Pulse-to-pulse consistency of excimer laser etching of cornea has been examined via two noncontact techniques: photoacoustic probe beam deflection, and time-resolved excimer pulse reflectometry. These methods clearly document the incubation phenomenon accompanying excimer laser ablation of polymethyl-methacrylate and the absence of the effect during polyimide ablation. In comparison, results for corneal ablation indicate consistent tissue etching over a train of pulses. Consequently, incubation appears to have negligible impact on corneal ablation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland 20857.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Pettit
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Ediger
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Weiblinger
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006371:Helium; D007834:Lasers; D008028:Light Coagulation / Q000379:methods; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D009356:Neon; D012117:Resins, Synthetic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D006371:Helium; C029945:polyimide resin; D009356:Neon