Abstract

Quintupled Nd:YAG laser radiation at 213 nm is currently being explored as an alternative to 193-nm ArF laser radiation for corneal-sculpting procedures.¹ This effort is principally driven by perceived advantages of the solid-state laser technology for clinical- device development. However, the feasibility of the alternative Nd:YAG-laser approach is also crucially dependent on the safety and efficacy of 213-nm comeal ablation relative to the better-known 193-nm effects. For this reason we have undertaken a comparative study of the laser/tissue interaction for pulsed radiation at these two laser wavelengths.

© 1995 Optical Society of America