Samples were about 0.6 mm thick. Depth penetration in untreated sclera. At further distances in, ablation occurred randomly as indicated by the occasional dark spot. Before SEM preparation, sample was 0.67 mm thick. Transscleral photodisruption using dehydration to induce transparency.
Top view is shown to depict the minimal tissue damage on the surface of the ablation.
The sample was initially 0.57 mm thick. The experiments clearly show that precise photodisruption is possible in sclera using the two different methods described. We were able to produce photodisruption on the back surface of the sclera without damaging the overlying tissues. No damage occurred before photodisruption was achieved on the back surface. This would imply that a channel of any shape at any location may be possible without damaging the overlying tissue.