Femtosecond laser-assisted retinal imaging and ablation: experimental pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate retinal imaging and ablation using femtosecond laser pulses.


METHODS
Two non-amplified near-infrared femtosecond lasers were used to irradiate porcine retinal specimens in vitro. The lasers were used for tissue removal as well as multiphoton laser scanning microscopy.


RESULTS
Ablation of the nerve fiber layer was performed at pulse energies of 1.0 nJ to 3.9 nJ. Control laser scanning images were acquired within seconds after irradiation. Specimens were additionally investigated with electron microscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-amplified femtosecond lasers may allow precise surgery controlled by fast high-resolution imaging of the target.
Hild
Matthias
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany. mat.hild@gmx.de
Krause
Matthias
M
Riemann
Iris
I
Mestres
Pedro
P
Toropygin
Sergey
S
Löw
Ursula
U
Brückner
Karin
K
Seitz
Berthold
B
Jonescu-Cuypers
Christian
C
König
Karsten
K
D000818:Animals; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009412:Nerve Fibers; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors