Side effects in excimer corneal surgery. Corneal thermal gradients

Thermal loading is a significant side effect during excimer laser surgery of the cornea. The maximal temperature rise, which is dependent on fluence and repetition rate of the radiation, amounts to 20 degrees C in excised corneas and 7.5 degrees C in the in situ cornea. The temperature decreases exponentially with increasing distance from the incision with a half-value distance of 610 +/- 100 micron. Exposure parameters are recommended to avoid temperature rises greater than 11 degrees C.