Subretinal fluid drainage with the erbium:YAG laser in rabbit eyes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser for choroidotomy as a means of performing external drainage of subretinal fluid with less risk of choroidal bleeding.


METHODS
The authors tested this application in a rabbit model of retinal detachment by evaluating the effects of Er:YAG laser energy on the bare choroid at various energy settings (1, 2, 3, or 5 mJ/pulse) and repetition rates (2, 4, 10, or 30 Hz).


RESULTS
Although the choroid was not perforated at low energy and frequency settings, choroidotomy was successfully achieved as energy and repetition rate were increased. Through higher energy levels per pulse and higher repetition rates, choroidotomy was achieved at lower total energy levels. No retinal damage was detected after laser choroidotomy. Choroidal bleeding was noted in 2 of 97 eyes; however, no subretinal hemorrhage occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the Er:YAG laser may be a clinically useful tool for retinal reattachment surgery.
Kawasaki
A
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Japan.
Ohji
M
M
Lewis
J M
JM
Marcellino
G
G
Hida
T
T
Tano
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D002829:Choroid / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D053685:Laser Therapy; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome