| Abstract: | This work was aimed at analysis of all the aspects, pathomorphologic included, of short-pulsed YAG laser exposure of the lens. Experiments were carried out with 79 rabbit eyes. After laser exposure the eyes were enucleated in 1-24 h and in 7-10 days. Thirty-one eyes were subjected to YAG laser ++capsule puncture. Fragmentation of intracapsular structures was carried out in 23 eyes. Combined operations were performed on 25 eyes. Every series comprised two groups, differing by the energy of laser exposure: 3-5 mJ. Histologic analysis has lead the authors to the following conclusions. The pattern and severity of pathomorphologic changes were directly related to the energy and time of laser exposure and site of the focal plane of irradiation. The major destructive shifts after YAG laser fragmentation of the cortical layer and capsulotomy are focussed at the site of exposure and involve the adjacent sections of the lens. Laser exposure of 3-5 mJ may be used to open the anterior capsule of the lens and to facilitate the cataract mass discharge in extracapsular cataract extraction. Use of combined method helps enhance induration and fragmentation of the cortical layers of the lens, rules out surgical discission of the anterior capsule of the lens, and facilitates removal of the nucleus and wash out of the lens mass. |
