Retinal Laser Irradiation Diameter Estimation

Eyes of rhesus monkeys were exposed to argon and helium-neon laser radiation, and the resulting image diameters produced were estimated using microphotometer scans of pictures taken. Grids of known dimension were projected onto the retina, and photographs referenced to the optic disk were used to check the results. The eyes were then enucleated, and gross sections were used to measure accurately the optic disk. Relative measurements of image diameters were converted into the corresponding absolute values The use of grids projected onto the retina and referenced to the optic disk was found to be a good first approximation of the retinal image diameter. The focal length of the rhesus monkey eye was estimated from the retinal image diameter and external laser beam characteristics.