Vitreoretinal surgery assisted by the 193-nm excimer laser.

PURPOSE Ablating and cutting vitreoretinal membranes using a 193-nm excimer laser-based microsurgical system. METHODS A 193-nm microsurgical system enables delivery of the beam into a fluid medium to cut preretinal and subretinal membranes. Two patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and one patient with proliferative vitreoretinopathy were treated with this new device. RESULTS Gentle ablation and cutting of the preretinal and subretinal membranes without exerting any traction on or apparent damage to the neighboring tissue was achieved. CONCLUSIONS The technology is applicable to a variety of intraocular vitreoretinal surgical procedures.