Optical Breakdown in Water and Ocular Media, and Its Use for Intraocular Photodisruption

Abstract : Since its introduction into ophthalmology by Krasnov (1977), Fankhauser, et al. (1981), and Aron-Rosa, et al. (1980), photodisruption by short, intense laser pulses has come into widespread use because it makes noninvasive, intraocular microsurgery possible. This dissertation is devoted to a study of the physical mechanisms of photodisruption in water and ocular media for the purpose of determining the optimum laser parameters for existing laser surgical procedures and opening up possible new areas of application by shortening the laser pulse duration from the nanosecond to the picosecond or femtosecond range.