A new model for laser-induced thermal damage in the retina |
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Authors: | Till S J Till J Milsom P K Rowlands G |
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Institution: | (1) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Room PE206, Dstl. St. Andrews Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3PS, UK;(2) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3PS, UK;(3) Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK |
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Abstract: | We describe a new model for laser-induced retinal damage. Our treatment is prompted by the failure of the traditional approach
to accurately describe the image size dependence of laser-induced retinal injuries and by a recently reported study which
demonstrated that laser injuries to the retina might not appear for up to 48 h post exposure.
We propose that at threshold a short-duration, laser-induced, temperature rise melts the membrane of the melanosomes found
in the pigmented retinal epithelial cells. This results in the generation of free radicals which initiate a slow chain reaction.
If more than a critical number of radicals are generated then cell death may occur at a time much later than the return of
the retina to body temperature.
We show that the equations consequent upon this mechanism result in a good fit to the recent image size data although more
detailed experimental data for rate constants of elementary reactions is still required.
This paper contributes to the current understanding of damage mechanisms in the retina and may facilitate the development
of new treatments to mitigate laser injuries to the eye. The work will also help minimize the need for further animal experimentation
to set laser eye safety standards.
Unemployed; no address available. |
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