SOLID-STATE LASER SOURCE FOR CORNEAL ABLATION

准分子激光角膜切削术，一种通过角膜切削术矫正近视的新方法， 用ArF准分子激光去除角膜组织，目前 正在美国进行人体临床试验。 准分子激光器是 相对复杂并且在操作中使用消耗性有毒气体。 一 准分子的固态替代物的净化成本较低， 追逐和维护成本较低。 虽然FDA的批准预计不会 直到1993-1994年，这种手术的巨大市场潜力已经导致 对基于替代技术的系统的深入研究。 由于没有有效的紫外固体激光器， 第二阶段的计划是研制一种近红外光源， 通过频率四倍移到207-220 nm区域。 组织 将进行研究，以评估性能差异 在该波长区域和193 nm受激准分子之间。 长期 我们的目标是开发一种固态紫外线系统， 现有屈光手术工作站中的准分子。

Photorefractive keratectomy, a new procedure used to correct myopia by removing corneal tissue with an ArF excimer laser, is currently undergoing human clinical trials in the US. The excimer laser is relatively complex and employs expendable, toxic gases in operation. A solid-state alternative to the excimer would be less expensive to pur- chase and less costly to maintain. Although FDA approval is not expected until 1993-1994, the enormous market potential for this procedure has led to an intensive search for systems based on alternative technology. Since efficient UV solid-state lasers are not available, the objective of the Phase II program would be to develop a near-IR source that could be shifted to the 207-220 nm region via frequency quadrupling. Tissue studies would be performed in order to assess the performance differences between this wavelength region and the 193 nm excimer. The long term goal would be to develop a solid-state UV system that could replace the excimer in existing refractive surgery workstations.