TRANSSCLERAL DIODE-LASER CYCLOPHOTOCOAGULATION ON AUTOPSY EYES WITH ABNORMALLY THINNED SCLERA

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine, using autopsy eyes, whether di ode laser energy adjustments are indicated in patients with thin scler a. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the laboratory, the superior 180 degrees of sclera at the limbus was dissected to the level of barely visible a nterior uvea and the opposite 180 degrees of sclera served as the cont rol in three human cadaver eyes. A contact G-probe was placed at the l imbus, and settings of a diode laser were increased in increments from 1.0 to 9.0 J at 4 burns per setting in each location. RESULTS: On gro ss examination, circular hypopigmented lesions were seen in the ciliar y body (CB) beginning at 3.0 J in thin sclera and at 5.0 J in normal s clera. On light microscopic examination of thin scleral sections, CB d amage began at 2.9 J and CB/ciliary body epithelium (CBE) damage occur red beginning at 3.5 J. In normal sclera, minimal CB/CBE changes occur red at 6.0 to 7.5 J. No scleral damage was visible in either the exper imental or the control groups. CONCLUSION: Cycloablation energy adjust ments are indicated on eyes with abnormally thin sclera to achieve sim ilar histologic end points using the diode laser.