Posters

Applanation-free corneal trephination with ultrafast desorption by impulsive vibrational excitation (DIVE)

Poster Details

First Author: S.Linke GERMANY

Co Author(s):    L. Ren   A. Frings   W. Wöllmer   T. Katz   G. Richard   D. Miller

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To present a first proof of concept study to test the feasibility of a new mid infrared (MIR) picosecond laser to perform applanation free corneal trephination.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE) and Max-Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Hamburg, Germany

Methods:

The output from the driving laser system (PIRL-HP2-1064 OPA-3000, Attodyne Inc., Canada) is specified for the wavelength of 3000 ± 90 nm, the pulse duration of 300 ps and the repetition rate of 1 kHz. The picosecond infrared laser (PIRL) beam is delivered to the sample by a custom-made optics system with an implemented scanning mechanism. Corneal specimens were mounted on an artificial anterior chamber and subsequent trephination was performed under stabile intraocular pressure conditions.

Results:

A defined corneal ablation pattern, i.e. circular, linear, rectangular or disc-shaped, can be chosen and its specific dimensions defined by the user. Circular and linear ablation patterns were employed for the incisions in this study. Macroscopic, histological, confocal, and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) sections of linear and circular penetrating PIRL incisions performed in human and porcine cornea revealed stable and reproducible cutting capability with minimal damage of adjacent tissue.

Conclusions:

We demonstrate that with the PIRL operating at a wavelength of 3 µm, stable and reproducible cuttings of human and porcine corneae are feasible. The PIRL laser radiation serves as an effective tool for applanation-free corneal incision and might broaden the armamentarium of cornea transplant surgery. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE