A gonioscopy lens for pulsed-laser trabeculotomy

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Optical Engineering
• Biomedical Optics

Background:

• High-power pulsed lasers are increasingly used in ophthalmic procedures.
• Existing gonioscopy lenses face challenges with high laser powers and precise targeting.
• Accurate delivery of laser energy to the trabecular region is crucial for glaucoma treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate an indirect gonioscopy lens optimized for high-power, short-duration pulsed lasers.
• To ensure safe and effective laser energy delivery to the trabecular meshwork.
• To minimize optical aberrations and reflection losses during laser gonioscopy.

Main Methods:

• Development of an indirect gonioscopy lens utilizing an equilateral quartz prism.
• Internal reflection of the laser beam within the quartz prism.
• Coupling the lens to the cornea using a saline solution for index matching.
• Directing the laser beam through the cornea to the trabecular region with minimal refraction.

Main Results:

• The designed lens effectively handles high-power (100-kW) pulsed laser outputs.
• Minimal chromatic aberration achieved by near-normal incidence at dielectric interfaces.
• Reflection losses are less than 5%, even without antireflection coatings.
• The quartz prism demonstrates robustness for laser gonioscopy applications.

Conclusions:

• The novel indirect gonioscopy lens is suitable for high-power pulsed laser applications in ophthalmology.
• The design offers a robust, efficient, and aberration-minimized solution for targeting the trabecular region.
• This advancement has potential implications for laser-based glaucoma therapies.