Hybrid tracking system for retinal photocoagulation prototype II.

Laser photocoagulation has been employed extensively by ophthalmologists to treat retinal diseases and disorders such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and retinal tears. Treatment is a manual task requiring the physician to carefully place therapeutic lesions on the retina while avoiding critical vision anatomy. We have developed a hybrid tracking system using two retinal tracking modalities: a digital imaging-based subsystem and an analog tracking subsystem to stabilize the irradiating laser on the retina. We have also investigated a lesion parameter control subsystem to provide uniform therapeutic lesions.