Suprathreshold retinal damage due to single 6 picosecond 1060 nm laser light pulses.

The retinas of rhesus monkeys were exposed to 6 ps laser light pulses at 1060 nm at 62 and 95 muJ. Lesions were examined by light and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Evidence of damage was seen in all retinal layers, being most severe in the photoreceptor inner and outer segments. In addition to damage mechanisms previously proposed, it is suggested that the peak power flux density achieved with extremely short pulses may lead to some absorbance by inner retinal layers.