Intraocular lens damage from Nd:YAG laser pulses focused in the vitreous Part II: Mode-locked lasers

Abstract

Damage can be induced within the interior of a plastic intraocular lens (IOL) by a mode-locked Nd:YAG laser when the beam's focus lies well behind the IOL. This type of damage, which has not been reported, is the result of cumulative, multiple exposures. The damage differs from that created by optical breakdown (plasma formation) within the plastic, which occurs only when the beam is focused within or near the IOL surface. This type of damage can be avoided clinically by minimizing the number of pulsed exposures along the same beam path.