Endophotocoagulation in vitrectomy with a carbon dioxide laser.

A continuous-wave carbon dioxide laser operating at a wavelength of 10.6 microns has been applied transvitreally by means of a miniature articulating arm and intraocular probe to produce chorioretinal lesions in albino white rabbit eyes. The advantages of using a carbon dioxide laser are its lack of pigment dependence, its ability to act both as a photocoagulator and as a phototransector, and its ability to deposit its energy in a well-defined area without adverse effect on neighboring ocular tissue. The main disadvantage of the carbon dioxide laser in vitreoretinal surgery is that in a fluid medium, such as the vitreous, the laser tip must be placed in direct physical contact with the target tissue to obtain a reaction.