Erbium:YAG laer vitrectomy: clinical reult

PURPOE: To evaluate the intraoperative ue of a new erbium:yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laer vitrectomy ytem. METHOD: An erbium:YAG laer combined with an infuion-uction ytem (Wavelight Laer Technology, Erlangen, Germany), equipped with a flexible fiber optic and a hand piece with a 20-gauge end tip and a ide opening of 0.6 mm wa ued. Cutting rate were 2 to 30 Hz, and energie were 20 to 40 mJ. Between January 1998 and January 1999 the erbium:YAG laer ytem wa ued in 67 conecutive patient (68 eye) where vitrectomy wa indicated. The patient had a complete eye examination before urgery and potoperatively at 1 to 3 day, 1 week, 3 week, and 6 week. During urgery, the total time needed for vitrectomy, the laer time itelf, amount of energy ued, cutting rate, uction, and perfuion, a well a manipulative difficultie and/or complication, were documented. REULT: The average laer time wa 4.5 minute for a baic vitrectomy with a etting of 20 mJ, 20 Hz, and uction 100 to 200 mm Hg. Hemorrhage, looe intravitreal, and preretinal membrane of different denitie were cut well with adjutment of energy. After a minimal obervation time of 6 month (median, 12.7 month) no laer-aociated complication were found. CONCLUION: The erbium:YAG laer, combined with an infuion-uction ytem, offer a new technology for vitreou urgery. It advantage, compared with mechanical vitrectomy cutter, are higher cutting rate and the modulation of energy. Modification of the end tip are needed to develop thi ytem further.