title: Syneresis of vitreous by carbon dioxide laser radiation.
abstract: In carbon dioxide laser surgery of the vitreous a process of vaporization has been advocated. In this report syneresis, a thermal liquefaction of gel, is shown to be over ten times more efficient on an energy basis than vaporization. Syneresis of vitreous is experimentally shown to be a first-order kinetic process with an activation energy of 41 +/- 0.5 kilocalories per mole. A theory of laser surgery in which this figure is used agrees closely with results from laser experiments on human eye-bank vitreous. The syneresis of vitreous by carbon dioxide laser radiation could lead to a more delicate form of ocular microsurgery, and application to other biological systems may be possible.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Bridges
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Strnad
authors.forename: O R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Karlin