Photodestructive effect of IR laser radiation on the cornea

A mathematical model of the photodestructive effect of high-power IR laser radiation on cornea tissues is presented. The threshold energy exposure is calculated as a function of the wavelength and the laser pulse duration in the range 10−5–10−1 s under the assumption that the irreversible primary changes in the structure of tissues have a thermochemical nature. The adequacy of the model is supported by comparison of the results of calculations with a great body of experimental data available in the literature. The model is oriented for use in designing medical equipment (for example, for the refraction correction by the thermal keratoplasty method) and in refining the operating laser safety standards.