Ho:YAG laser sclerostomy in a long-term animal model

摘要

The effects of the Ho:YAG (2.13 $mu@m) laser on rabbit scleral tissue ablation were determined. Over a period of 12 months the status of the drain hole was monitored. A 3 mm incision was made on 26 rabbits through the conjunctiva and the laser probe was advanced and applied under it. A fluence of 255 J/cm$+2$/ was used to perforate the sclera with a pulse duration of 300 $mu@sec full width at half maximum. Results of this study show that this laser thermal sclerostomy procedure provided a patent hole in 6 of 8 (75%) eyes at 3 months, 11 of 15 (73%) eyes at 6 months, and 3 of 3 at 12 months. No postoperative inflammation, hypotony or subsequent scar formation was observed in any of the rabbits.