title: Influence of laser parameters on selective retinal treatment using single-phase heat transfer analyses.
abstract: Selective thermal treatment to retina is induced by short pulsed lasers to denaturize retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) selectively, while sparing the sensitive photoreceptors. The problem associated with the usage of short pulsed laser is the difficulty in determining the correct dosimetry parameters. This study quantifies the influence of laser parameters over the therapeutic range. The laser-tissue interaction is numerically investigated by analyzing the transient temperature in ocular tissues during the treatment. The rate process analysis for thermal injury is employed to estimate the selective damage of retina. The contours of Arrhenius integral value (Omeg/ Omegamax) presented in this study show both the area and magnitude of damage caused by various laser parameters. Results reveal that the 2 micros pulsed laser with green wavelength and Gaussian profile is relatively more effective for selective retinal treatment. The repetition frequency of 100 Hz is found to produce selectively RPE damage, while higher frequencies produce collateral damage to neural retina and choroid located within 2 microm from the RPE interface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0072, USA. rupak.banerjee@uc.edu
authors.forename: Rupak K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Pradeep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gopalakrishnan
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kazmierczak
mesh_terms: D002829:Choroid / Q000528:radiation effects; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects; D008027:Light; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000528:radiation effects; D012160:Retina / Q000528:radiation effects*