Effect of alcohol on the efficacy of excimer laser power.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of various alcohol concentrations on excimer laser power.


METHODS
University Eye Clinic, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.


METHODS
The fluency of the Technolas 217z laser (Bausch & Lomb) was calibrated according to the standard calibration procedure. The effect of ethanol 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% and sodium hypochlorite 0.06% solutions on laser fluency was assessed in 5 experiments.


RESULTS
Ethanol concentrations of 20% and 40% had no significant effect on laser fluency. Ethanol concentrations of 60% and 80% reduced fluency to 97.6%. Sodium hypochlorite had no effect on laser fluency.


CONCLUSIONS
A high concentration of ethanol affected laser fluency and should be avoided in the operating theater. Ethanol 20%, which is commonly used during laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy, did not affect laser fluency.
Cheng
Arthur C K
AC
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 3F Hong Kong Eye Hospital, 147K Argyle Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. arthurcheng@cuhk.edu.hk
Law
Ricky W K
RW
Young
Alvin L M
AL
Chu
Geoffrey C P
GC
Lam
Dennis S C
DS
D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000592:standards*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology
D000431:Ethanol; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite