Multiple-pulse laser retinal damage thresholds.
The additivity from multiple exposures of the retina to laser light sources is investigated with regard to empirical and theoretical models. Prior data indicate additivity consistent with a total-on-time formulation in the case of point source conditions but not for extended source conditions. Thermal model calculations agree with the extended source results, but only agree with point-source data when the pulse repetition rate is higher than 10 Hz. The anomaly at low pulse repetition rates can still be interpreted in terms of a thermal damage mechanism if spatial variations are considered.
D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008433:Mathematics; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008954:Models, Biological; D012160:Retina / Q000293:injuries*