An Analysis of Chorioretinal Thermal Response to Intense Light Exposure

An analytical expression has been obtained for the transient temperature distribution produced when the retina is irradiated by a high-intensity light source. The following factors are included in the analysis: (1) structurally the fundus consists of layers of material which have different physical properties, (2) absorption of energy from the light beam follows the Beer-Lambert law, (3) energy is absorbed in the sclera as well as in the pigment epithelium and choroid, (4) heat is removed from the fundus by blood circulating through the capillaries of the choroid, and (5) intensity of the light source may vary with time. Computed values indicate that absorption of energy in the sclera and removal of heat by convection are both important for longer irradiation times, which agrees with recent experimental observations. The asymptotic response to a train of pulses is presented also.