Contact laser: thermal sclerostomy ab interna.

An experimental technique utilizing a sapphire contact laser probe for thermal sclerostomy ab interna is described. The contact laser probe with a tip diameter of 0.2 mm is brought in contact with the trabecular meshwork. Using 3.50 watts of cw Nd:YAG at 0.1 second duration, three to five exposures established communication between anterior chamber and subconjunctival space in pigmented rabbits.