Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Use of the carbon dioxide laser in the drainage of subretinal fluid

Journal Article · · Arch. Ophthalmol. (Chicago); (United States)
Hemorrhage and retinal perforation are two sight-threatening complications associated with techniques employed to drain subretinal fluid in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. We hypothesized that the carbon dioxide (CO/sub 2/) laser would reduce these complications because of its cauterizing action and high absorption in water. The CO/sub 2/ laser was compared with a conventional technique of using a penetrating diathermy electrode to drain subretinal fluid in rabbits with experimentally detached retinas. No hemorrhage occurred in 223 drainage trials using the CO/sub 2/ laser, whereas hemorrhage occurred in 21 (4.8%) of 434 trials using the penetrating diathermy electrode. Furthermore, a depth of saline of only 45 microns protected the retina from perforation at CO/sub 2/ laser dose adequate for drainage. These results indicate that further evaluation of the CO/sub 2/ laser in treating human retinal detachment is warranted.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Illinois, Chicago (USA)
OSTI ID:
6065375
Journal Information:
Arch. Ophthalmol. (Chicago); (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Ophthalmol. (Chicago); (United States) Vol. 107:5; ISSN AROPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English