LASER RADIATION EFFECTS ON THE MORPHOLOGY AND FUNCTION OF OCULAR TISSUE

The effects of different energy levels of ruby laser radiation on electrophysiological, psychophysical and anatomical measures were examined. Spectral sensitivity tests, using an ERG analysis, demonstrated prolonged laser effects on rhesus and mangabey monkeys. At 15-months post-exposure for the rhesus monkey (0.8J/sq cm), the amplitude of the b wave was depressed at all wavelengths except 420 nm. At one-year post-laser exposure for the mangabey monkey (0.2J/sq cm), the amplitude of the b wave was depressed at all wavelengths and the amplitude of the b wave as a function of intensity at 570 nm was depressed by about 20 percent at high intensity and not affected at low intensity. Also, the third oscillatory potential remained absent. An ERG analysis of the Rayleigh match demonstrated that rhesus monkeys have normal color vision (A.Q. = 1.0), that squirrel monkeys are protanomalous (A.Q. = 0.305), and that owl monkeys are monochromatic (A.Q. = infinity). Following laser exposure of two rhesus monkeys the match was unbalanced in favor of the green component, indicating a protanomalous response. Behavioral studies of two rhesus monkeys, one laser exposed at 1.8J/sq cm and one exposed at 0.18J/sq cm, demonstrated a reduction in sensitivity at all but two spectral points for the monkey exposed at 1.8J/sq cm and no significant change in the sensitivity of the monkey exposed at 0.18J/sq cm. The latter monkey did, however, show a marked change in the shape of the function indicating an anomalous finding. (Author)