Sensitivity of the Rhesus Monkey Cornea and Surrounding Tissues to Heat Produced by CO2Laser Radiation,

摘要

Rhesus monkeys were trained to report the presence of heat produced by a CO2laser system. Four, 8,and 16mm diameter beams were directed at the cornea,lids,and face of the animals at irradiances ranging from 1to 200mw/sq cm,and the results compared to those of other investigators who utilized human subjects. Several conclusions can be made based upon this study. (1) The cornea does not appear to be sensitive to heat produced by a CO2laser system at irradiances twice the recommended safety level. (2) No changes were observed in the corneas,lids,or facial tissues of the animals after several thousand 20-second exposures at these irradiances. (3) The threshold for sensitivity to CO2laser radiation with the 8mm diameter beam was between 25and 50mw/sq cm,while for the 16mm beam condition it was between 4and 20mw/sq cm. (4) No differences in the rhesus monkey responses were observed between the 8mm beam directed at the cornea and lids and the same beam directed to a non-hairy area of the face,while responses to the 4mm diameter beam were different when skin exposures were compared to corneal exposures. (Author)