Effects of infrared radiation on the cornea

A three-dimensional thermodynamic model is proposed for the calculation of laser coagulation of the cornea. The temperature fields are calculated for some of the energies used in experiments. The temperature dependence of the rate constant of the reaction resulting in denaturation of the cornea proteins is found. The energies of pulsed infrared radiation resulting in least visible changes in the structure of the cornea are determined as a function of the pulse duration. The calculated values are found to be in agreement with experimental results.