Abstract

Laser-induced optical breakdown is an important type of laser-tissue interaction which has been used clinically in ophthalmology for the surgical incision of intraocular structures. The physical processes associated with optical breakdown include plasma formation, acoustic wave generation and propagation, and cavitation.^1–3 These processes produce the desired surgical incision effects but also limit the localizability of the laser-tissue interaction.

© 1988 Optical Society of America