Implications of the corneal temperature range in the prediction of laser thermal damage.

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Corneal temperatures of the rhesus monkeys have been measured under conditions that may exist during laser experiments. The minimum and maximum temperatures found for all experimental conditions were 29.54 degrees C and 39.16 degrees C, respectively, a range of 9.62 degrees C. A computer model of thermal damage due to laser irradiation was used to determine the effect varying initial temperature could have on corneal damage thresholds (ED50's). The range of 9.62 degrees C found in monkeys for all experimental conditions corresponded to a 39% difference in threshold power. The dependence of damage thresholds on initial temperature could be an important factor to consider when basing laser safety standards on damage threshold data.