title: Application of femtosecond ultrashort pulse laser to photodynamic therapy mediated by indocyanine green.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate treatment with high peak power pulse energy by femtosecond ultrashort pulse laser (titanium sapphire laser) delivered at an 800 nm wavelength for corneal neovascularisation using photodynamic therapy (PDT) mediated by indocyanine green (ICG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a gelatin solid as an in vitro corneal model, the safety of laser power was studied to determine if it degenerated gelatin with or without ICG. The authors then induced corneal neovascularisation in rabbit eyes by an intracorneal suturing technique. Fluorescein angiography was used to evaluate occlusion before PDT and 0, 1, 3, and 10 days after PDT. The authors performed light microscopy with haematoxylin eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy to determine thrombosis formation in the neovascular regions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The threshold of peak laser power density ranged from 39 to 53 W/cm(2). Laser irradiation was started 30 seconds after a 10 mg/kg ICG injection, and all irradiated segments were occluded at 0, 1, 3, and 10 days at 3.8 J/cm(2). Light and electron microscopy documented thrombosis formation in the neovascular region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Femtosecond pulse laser enhanced by ICG can be used for PDT. Because of effective closure of corneal neovascularisation at a low energy level, the high peak power pulse energy of the femtosecond pulse laser might be more efficacious than continuous wave laser for use with PDT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. sawamiki@ophthal.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Awazu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Horiike
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohji
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005780:Gelatin; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000379:methods*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D023421:Models, Animal; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011817:Rabbits; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005780:Gelatin; D007208:Indocyanine Green