title: A new solid-state, frequency-doubled neodymium-YAG photocoagulation system.
abstract: 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.
authors: Eye Research Institute of Retina Foundation, Boston, MA 02114.
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Jalkh
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Pflibsen
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Pomerantzeff
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Trempe
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Schepens
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium; D001128:Argon; D000535:Aluminum