Implications of the corneal temperature range in the prediction of laser thermal damage

Corneal temperatures of the rhesus monkeys have been measured under conditions that may exist during laser experiments. The minimum and maximum temperatures found for all experimental conditions were 29.54 degrees C and 39.16 degrees C, respectively, a range of 9.62 degrees C. A computer model of thermal damage due to laser irradiation was used to determine the effect varying initial temperature could have on corneal damage thresholds (ED50's). The range of 9.62 degrees C found in monkeys for all experimental conditions corresponded to a 39% difference in threshold power. The dependence of damage thresholds on initial temperature could be an important factor to consider when basing laser safety standards on damage threshold data.