Abstract
Adaptive optics offers a powerful tool for providing localized light stimuli for therapeutic purposes within the eye. Ultra precise corneal surgery with short pulse (femtosecond) lasers is well established. The precise localization of light energy in other parts of the eye will be degraded by the optics of the eye. Adaptive optics could enable precise surgeries and other therapies in the crystalline lens and retina of the eye. The advantages of using nonlinear processes and light activated agents and some potential therapies will be discussed. The volume within which the therapy can be localized is reduced by adaptive optics in linear optical processes and further reduced in nonlinear optical processes. We have shown that the gradient refractive index optics of the crystalline lens will affect nonlinear treatments within the lens.
Canadian Institute for Photonics Innovation, Ontario Photonics Consortium, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council