부산대학교 도서관

• We used a pulsed erbium-YAG laser emitting in the midinfrared region (2.94 μm) to cut experimental vitreous membranes in rabbits via an intraocular fiber-optic delivery system. Thirty-four membranes were cut at distances of 500 to 3600 μm from the retina. All 34 of the membranes treated were effectively cut. Sixteen cases had no evidence of retinal injury, including one in which the membrane was only 800 μm from the retina. Retinal injuries in the remaining cases consisted of small (<300 μm) retinal burns and hemorrhages. In 94% of the cases with retinal injury, the fiberoptic was within 2000 μm of the retina. We conclude that a pulsed erbium-YAG laser allows near tractionless cutting of vitreous membranes and may have potential for clinical use if further studies show it to be efficacious and safe near the retina.