A High-Efficiency Laser Iridotomy-Sphincterotomy Lens

A new laser iridotomy-sphincterotomy contact lens, bearing a 103-diopter optical button decentered 2.5 mm, gives the smallest iris focal spot and highest iris energy density practicably obtainable with a single optical glass refracting surface placed upon a thin Goldmann-type contact lens. By increasing iris energy density to a level 7.79 times greater than that from a piano contact lens and 2.92 times greater than that from the Abraham lens, the lens increases the iris burn temperature level above the threshold level for evaporative pyrolysis, even at exposures of 0.01 and 0.02 second, thus facilitating argon laser iridotomy and iris sphincterotomy by the linear incision method. Corneal and retinal energy exposures are greatly reduced. Used with the Nd-YAG laser, the lens increases efficiency for iridotomy and for division of vitreous bands in the anterior chamber.