Experimental investigation on acoustic phenomena induced inside the eyeball by excimer laser ablation of the cornea

In this work we studied the propagation of the acoustic wave generated during laser keratectomy with a clinical ArF laser source. In vitro measurements of the temporal pressure profiles induced inside the ocular bulb were performed on porcine eyes with a fast risetime needle hydrophone introduced into the eyeball. Peak pressure values as high as 90 bars have been measured at a laser fluence of 180 mJ/cm 2, depending on the diameter of the irradiation spot and on the distance from the surface of the cornea.