A new solid-state, frequency-doubled neodymium-YAG photocoagulation system.
We have developed a solid-state laser system that produces a continuous green monochromatic laser beam of 532 nm by doubling the frequency of a neodymium-YAG laser wavelength of 1064 nm with a potassium-titamyl-phosphate crystal. Photocoagulation burns of equal size and intensity were placed in two rabbit eyes with the solid-state laser system and the regular green argon laser system, respectively, using the same slit-lamp mode of delivery. Histologic findings of lesion sections revealed no important differences between the two systems. In theory, the longer wavelength of the solid-state laser offers the advantages of less scattering in ocular media, higher absorption by oxyhemoglobin, and less absorption by macular xanthophyll than the 514-nm wavelength of the regular green argon laser. The solid-state laser has impressive technical advantages: it contains no argon-ion gas tube that wears out and is expensive to replace; it is much more power efficient, and thus considerably smaller and compact; it is sturdier and easily movable; it does not require external cooling; it uses a 220-V monophasic alternating current; and it requires little maintenance.
Jalkh
A E
AE
Eye Research Institute of Retina Foundation, Boston, MA 02114.
Pflibsen
K
K
Pomerantzeff
O
O
Trempe
C L
CL
Schepens
C L
CL
D000535:Aluminum; D000818:Animals; D001128:Argon; D005123:Eye / Q000473:pathology; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008028:Light Coagulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009354:Neodymium; D011817:Rabbits; D015019:Yttrium
D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium; D001128:Argon; D000535:Aluminum