Contact glass for use with high power lasers ? geometrical and optical aspects

Abstract

A new mirror contact glass for irradiation of pathological structures within the angle of the anterior chamber with high power lasers is described. The new contact glass is distinguished by its optimized optical characteristics. Due to its spherical front surface, tipping movements, as necessary in inspection and aiming manoeuvres, have no significant influence on the focus diameter. That the imaging quality is independent of the contact glass manipulations is seen as essential for laser surgical tasks with high power lasers, since changes in the focus diameter critically affect the power density at the focus and thus the intensity of the microsurgical effects. The increased spatial reliability of the laser-induced microexplosion is thought to be a further merit of the new contact glass.