Neodymium-YAG laser surgery on experimental vitreous membranes.
A Q-switched neodymium-YAG laser was used to cut experimental vitreous membranes in rabbit eyes. We were able to cut vitreous membranes up to 4 mm from the retinal surface using single pulse energies of up to 4 mJ without fluorescein angiographic evidence of retinal injury. When cutting membranes between 1.5 and 3 mm from the retinal surface, injury was documented in five of seven cases. The most frequently observed fundus injury was choroidal hemorrhage. The neodymium-YAG laser may be useful in cutting avascular membranes in the posterior segment of the eye.
D000818:Animals; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008566:Membranes / Q000601:surgery; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000293:injuries*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000601:surgery*