Mechanisms of interaction of laser radiation with ocular tissues: implications for human exposure limits

Many investigations of laser injury to the eye have been carried out over the past 15 years in order to set standards for safe exposure of the human eye to laser radiation. A review of this extensive body of mainly experimental data suggests that there are at least three dominant mechanisms of injury which are well accepted. However, other effects cannot be ruled out. In particular, several results suggest that the time evolution of injury and repair processes as well as the physical aspects of the interaction of biological tissue with optical radiation must be considered.