Vitreoretinal surgery assisted by the 193-nm excimer laser.

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Abstract

PURPOSE: Ablating and cutting vitreoretinal membranes using a 193-nm excimer laser-based microsurgical system. METHODS: A 193-nm microsurgical system enables delivery of the beam into a fluid medium to cut preretinal and subretinal membranes. Two patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and one patient with proliferative vitreoretinopathy were treated with this new device. RESULTS: Gentle ablation and cutting of the preretinal and subretinal membranes without exerting any traction on or apparent damage to the neighboring tissue was achieved. CONCLUSIONS: The technology is applicable to a variety of intraocular vitreoretinal surgical procedures.