Origin of retinal pigment epithelium cell damage by pulsed laser irradiance in the nanosecond to microsecond time regimen

Abstract

The origin of RPE cell damage for single pulse irradiation up to pulse durations of 3 microsec can be described by a damage mechanism in which microbubbles around the melanosomes cause a rupture of the cell structure. The threshold radiant exposure for RPE damage decreases with increasing number of pulses applied.