Application of ultrashort laser pulses for intrastromal refractive surgery

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Holger Lubatschowski
  • Gero Maatz
  • Alexander Heisterkamp
  • Udo Hetzel
  • Wolfgang Drommer
  • Herbert Welling
  • Wolfgang Ertmer

Research Organisations

External Research Organisations

  • Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH)
  • University of Veterinary Medicine of Hannover, Foundation
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)33-39
Number of pages7
JournalGraefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Volume238
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2000

Abstract

Background: Recently, laser systems have become available which generate ultrashort laser pulses with a duration of 100-200 femto-seconds (fs). By generating microplasmas inside the corneal stroma with fs pulses, it is possible to achieve a cutting effect inside the tissue while leaving the anterior layers intact. The energy threshold to generate a micro-plasma with fs pulses is some orders of magnitude lower than it is for picosecond or nanosecond pulses. This results in a strong reduction of the thermal and mechanical damage of the surrounding tissue. Methods: With a titanium:sapphire fs laser system, the cutting effect on corneal tissue from freshly enucleated porcine eye globes was investigated with different pulse energies. The irradiated samples were examined by light and electron microscopy. The laser-induced pressure transients and the laser-induced bubble formation were analysed with a broadband acoustic transducer and by flash photography. Results: With fs laser pulses, the extent of thermal and mechanical damage of the adjacent tissue is in the order of 1 μm or below and therefore comparable with the tissue alterations after ArF excimer laser ablation. Using pulse energies of approximately 1-2 μJ and a spot diameter of 5-10 μm, intrastromal cuts can be performed very precisely in order to prepare corneal flaps and lenticules. Conclusion: Femtosecond photodisruption has the potential to become an attractive tool for intrastromal refractive surgery.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cite this

Application of ultrashort laser pulses for intrastromal refractive surgery. / Lubatschowski, Holger; Maatz, Gero; Heisterkamp, Alexander et al.
In: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, Vol. 238, No. 1, 01.2000, p. 33-39.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Lubatschowski, H, Maatz, G, Heisterkamp, A, Hetzel, U, Drommer, W, Welling, H & Ertmer, W 2000, 'Application of ultrashort laser pulses for intrastromal refractive surgery', Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, vol. 238, no. 1, pp. 33-39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004170050006
Lubatschowski, H., Maatz, G., Heisterkamp, A., Hetzel, U., Drommer, W., Welling, H., & Ertmer, W. (2000). Application of ultrashort laser pulses for intrastromal refractive surgery. Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 238(1), 33-39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004170050006
Lubatschowski H, Maatz G, Heisterkamp A, Hetzel U, Drommer W, Welling H et al. Application of ultrashort laser pulses for intrastromal refractive surgery. Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. 2000 Jan;238(1):33-39. doi: 10.1007/s004170050006
Lubatschowski, Holger ; Maatz, Gero ; Heisterkamp, Alexander et al. / Application of ultrashort laser pulses for intrastromal refractive surgery. In: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. 2000 ; Vol. 238, No. 1. pp. 33-39.
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