Ocular Hazard from Picosecond Pulses of Nd: YAG Laser Radiation

Abstract

Seven rhesus monkeys (14 eyes) were exposed to 1064-nanometer radiation in single pulses of 25 to 35 picoseconds from a mode-locked Nd: YAG laser. Threshold injury resulted from single pulses with a mean energy of 13 ± 3 microjoules. Electron microscopy of the retina revealed that damage was highly localized in the photoreceptor and pigmented epithelial cells at the outer retina. Membrane disruption, distorted outer segments, and abnormal melanin granules resembling fetal premelanosomes were observed.