RETINAL DAMAGE BY Q-SWITCHED RUBY LASER

In studies of retinal damage by the Q-switched ruby laser, threshold values were determined for both 'minimal' and large retinal spot sizes. In addition to using the conventional ophthalmoscopic methods for detecting injury in the living animal, histopathological examinations were performed on a number of irradiated eyes following enucleation. The microscopic evaluation of irradiated tissue was considered to be particularly important in the minimal retinal spot size experiments in order to support the ophthalmoscopic observations of very small retinal lesions. In analyzing the data the macular and extramacular exposure sites have been considered separately because of conflicting reports concerning the relative sensitivity f these two retinal areas to laser damage. (Author)
Joint AMRDC-AMC Laser Safety Team.