Erbium:YAG laser photoablation of human cornea.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the healing response of the human cornea after photoablation with a midinfrared solid-state laser was more pronounced than after excimer laser keratectomies because of the increased thermal damage in adjacent tissue.


METHODS
We treated five blind human eyes with an erbium:YAG (Er:YAG) laser prototype and followed up the patients for nine months.


RESULTS
Regarding epithelial healing and corneal clarity, the patients had a healing response very similar to that of excimer laser. Further clinical and experimental studies are necessary to estimate healing and regression.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications; D014945:Wound Healing