Laser sclerostomy ab interno using a continuous wave Nd:YAG laser.
We report the use of a continuous wave Nd:YAG (CW-YAG) laser focused through a sapphire crystal to create a filtering bleb by ab-interno sclerostomy. A 2-mm clear corneal incision was made in each eye of five anesthetized Dutch Belted rabbits, and the 30-mm-long sapphire crystal with a 0.2-mm focal tip was passed across the anterior chamber until it came in contact with the opposite angle. Between two and three pulses of 0.8 J were required to produce a filtering bleb in each of the 10 eyes. The overlying conjunctiva was not damaged; the procedure time was under five minutes. Histological examination revealed a surrounding area of scleral melting that extended an average of 0.06 mm from the sclerostomy. These data suggest that the CW-YAG laser may be useful in performing glaucoma filtering surgery with minimal damage to surrounding ocular tissues.
William and Anna Goldberg Glaucoma Service of the Wills Eye Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pa.
J C
JC
Javitt
S S
SS
O'Connor
R P
RP
Wilson
J L
JL
Federman
D000818:Animals; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011817:Rabbits; D012590:Sclera / Q000473:pathology; D012599:Sclerostomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors