Excimer laser instrumentation and technique for human corneal surgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Laser Physics

Background:

• The clinical application of argon fluoride excimer lasers in ophthalmology necessitates specialized instrumentation for precise tissue interaction.
• Previous methods for corneal modification lacked the precision required for advanced surgical procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the design and development of instrumentation for argon fluoride excimer laser treatment of human eyes.
• To detail the subsystems enabling controlled laser application for corneal surgery.

Main Methods:

• Development of laser, optical, alignment, measurement, and control subsystems for the excimer laser.
• Construction of a system to produce an axially symmetric, calibrated, and alignable laser beam.
• Implementation of a system capable of manipulating the laser to excise surface corneal tissue.

Main Results:

• The developed instrumentation successfully created a uniform argon fluoride excimer laser beam.
• The system allowed for precise alignment and controlled ablation of corneal tissue.
• Demonstrated the capability to perform nonuniform superficial lamellar keratectomy.

Conclusions:

• The described instrumentation is effective for argon fluoride excimer laser corneal surgery.
• This technology facilitates the treatment of opacified, scarred, or abnormal corneas.
• The system shows potential for correcting refractive errors by reshaping the anterior corneal curvature.