Visual System Neural Responses to Laser Exposure from Local Q-Switched Pulses and Extended Source CW Speckle Patterns

摘要

The report of retinal damage from exposure to short pulse laser energy without any visual perception have been reviewed. A series of experiments has been conducted in cats to test retinal function after such laser exposures using neurophysiological recordings from retinal ganglion cells. The receptive fields of the selected ganglion cells were in the area of laser exposure or immediately adjacent to it. Microsensor monitoring of retinal metabolic stability including pH and O2 levels following laser exposure was also attempted. Vigorous neural responses have been recorded from retinal ganglion cells following suprathreshold lesion producing laser exposures within the Ganglion cell receptive fields, or from nerve fibers at the optic disc. The disc recordings always showed responses from ganglion cells following suprathreshold stimulation levels sufficient to cause retinal lesions within the receptive field or in closely adjacent areas of the retina.