Neodymium-YAG laser surgery on experimental vitreous membranes.

A Q-switched neodymium-YAG laser was used to cut experimental vitreous membranes in rabbit eyes. We were able to cut vitreous membranes up to 4 mm from the retinal surface using single pulse energies of up to 4 mJ without fluorescein angiographic evidence of retinal injury. When cutting membranes between 1.5 and 3 mm from the retinal surface, injury was documented in five of seven cases. The most frequently observed fundus injury was choroidal hemorrhage. The neodymium-YAG laser may be useful in cutting avascular membranes in the posterior segment of the eye.