title: Photospallation: a new theory and mechanism for mid-infrared corneal ablations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A new mechanism for ablating corneal tissue is proposed, based on photospallation with short pulse mid-infrared (IR) laser radiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  By using a judicious combination of high absorption, short pulses, and low fluences, ablation with this process can potentially remove tissue in a highly localized manner with submicron collateral thermal damage characteristics similar to those achieved by excimer lasers. We provide a brief qualitative overview of aspects of the spallation process that distinguish it from the more familiar photoablation and photothermal mechanisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results of preliminary parametric analysis based on one-dimensional models of thermoelastic expansion are summarized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary calculations lend support to the conjecture that corneal tissue can be removed effectively with strongly absorbed nanosecond pulses from a mid-IR laser, using operational fluence levels of less than 200 mJ/cm2.
authors.affiliation: IRVision, Inc., San Jose, CA 95131, USA.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Telfair
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*