Cataract induction in rabbits with the Nd-YAG laser

The study of occlusion amblyopia and its therapy has involved animal models of stimulus deprivation achieved by various means, none of which closely simulates human congenital cataract. The authors used the Nd-YAG laser as a means of inducing cataracts in rabbit eyes. Twenty rabbit eyes were treated at various frequency and power settings. High energy YAG laser pulses of 10 mJ produced cataracts that at first resembled large bubbles. Over several days, these bubbles coalesced into smaller opacities. With multiple treatments (usually 150-200 pulses), the authors could create a cataract of a specific size and position. Six months later, 100% of these laser-treated rabbit eyes showed persistent cataracts that resembled human congenital cataracts. It appears that the YAG laser can provide a reproducible and reliable method of inducing specific types of cataracts in animal eyes without damaging other ocular structures.