Interplay of wavelength, fluence and spot-size in free-electron laser ablation of cornea

Infrared free-electron lasers ablate tissue with high efficiency and low collateral damage when tuned to the 6-mu m range. This wavelength-dependence has been hypothesized to arise from a multi-step process following differential absorption by tissue water and proteins. Here, we test this hypothesis at wavelengths for which cornea has matching overall absorption, but drastically different differential absorption. We measure etch depth, collateral damage and plume images and find that the hypothesis is not confirmed. We do find larger etch depths for larger spot sizes - an effect that can lead to an apparent wavelength dependence. Plume imaging at several wavelengths and spot sizes suggests that this effect is due to increased post-pulse ablation at larger spots. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America