Variation of laser induced retinal-damage threshold with retinal image size

The dependence of retinal damage threshold on laser spot size was examined for two pulse width regimes; nanosecond-duration Q-switched pulses from a doubled Nd:Yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser and microsecond-duration pulses from a flashlamp-pumped dye laser. Threshold determinations were conducted for nominal retinal image sizes ranging from 1.5 to 100 mrad of visual field, corresponding to image diameters of similar to 22 mu m to 1.4 mm on the primate retina. In addition, base line collimated-beam damage thresholds were determined for comparison to the extended source data. Together, this set of retinal damage thresholds reveals the functional dependence of threshold on spot size. The threshold dose was found to vary with the area of the image for larger image sizes. This experimentally determined trend was shown to agree with the predictions of thermal model calculations of laser-induced retinal damage for spot sizes greater than or similar to 50 mu m. The results are compared to previously published extended source damage thresholds and to the ANSI Z136.1 laser safety standard maximum permissible exposure levels for diffuse reflections. (C) 2000 Laser Instifute of America. [S1034-346X(00)00202-3].