Analysis of the PMMA and cornea temperature rise during excimer laser ablation

Abstract

A general method to analyze the ablation temperature for different materials (in particular in the human cornea and poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA)) is provided. The model is comprehensive and provides directly laser beam characteristics and ablative spot properties. The model further provides a method to convert the temperature rise during ablation observed in PMMA to equivalent temperature rises in the cornea. The proposed model can be used for calibration, verification and validation purposes of laser systems used for ablation processes at relatively low cost and would directly improve the quality of results.

Keywords:

• cornea
• PMMA
• temperature
• excimer
• laser
• ablation