Comparison of Photocoagulation with the Argon and Diode Laser in Rabbit Eyes

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of photocoagulation using between argon and diode infrared laser in experimental setting. A biomicro-scopic laser photocoagulation was performed with diode and argon laser to the same eye of the pigmented rabbit. The spot diameter of both lasers was fixed at 200 micrometer. To achive the same intensity of laser burns, we adjusted laser power settings under the indirect ophthalmoscopic examination. The average exposure time and power were 0.2 sec., 200mW in diode laser and 0.1 sec., 90mW in argon laser. Ophthalmoscopic findings were similar in both lasers. Histologically the effect of diode laser photocoagulation was deeper in layer. Argon laser photocoagulation was found to damage the inner retinal layer more severely than diode laser. This results suggest the use of diode laser has some advantage in preservation of the inner retinal layer and vitreretinal interface than argon laser in the treatment of retinal pathologies.