Mechanism of destruction of tissues in the drainage apparatus of the eye in laser microsurgery of the open-angle glaucoma

A study was made of the mechanism of destruction of tissues of the trabecular meshwork of the glaucomatous eye by laser radiation of nanosecond duration. The dominant role of the melanin pigment granules as laser breakdown initiators was demonstrated. An analysis was made of the conditions favoring formation of ionization waves initiated by thermal explosions of pigment granules and complete filling of the volume of the caustic by the breakdown plasma. The proposed mechanism was used to identify the optimal intensity and duration of laser pulses in microsurgery of the open-angle glaucoma.