Application of electromagnetic radiation to the human iris

Abstract

Rather than rely solely upon pupillary occlusion or tracking of eye movement to protect the fundus from accidental exposure to electromagnetic radiation, the present invention also utilizes an electromagnetic radiation pathway with a profile such that the energy density at the iris is greater than the energy density at the posterior portion of the eye. This disparity in energy density allows for efficacy at the anterior iris treatment site, without injury to the fundus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for preventing accidental overexposure of electromagnetic radiation to an iris of a human eye by delivering the electromagnetic radiation such that an energy density at the iris is greater than an energy density at a posterior portion of the human eye, the method comprising:
 generating, using an electromagnetic radiation generator, a laser beam;   determining, using a computerized scanning system, a delivery profile for the laser beam, wherein the delivery profile comprises a focal point and produces a spot on an anterior surface of the iris, wherein the laser beam converges at the focal point and then diverges, posterior to the iris, at a divergence angle, from the focal point, wherein the divergence angle is less than 15.0 degrees, and wherein a diameter of the spot is less than 15 millimeters; and   applying, using the computerized scanning system, the laser beam to the anterior surface of the iris with the delivery profile.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the spot is 1 to 10 microns. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the spot is 10 to 50 microns. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the spot is 50 to 100 microns. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the spot is 100 to 200 microns. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the spot is 200 to 500 microns. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein and the diameter of the spot is 200 to 500 microns. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the spot is 500 to 1000 microns. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the spot is 1000 microns to 15 millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the divergence angle of the beam is 1.0 to 2.5 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the divergence angle of the beam is 2.5 to 5.0 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the divergence angle of the beam is 5.0 to 7.5 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the divergence angle of the beam is 7.5 to 10.0 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the divergence angle of the beam is 10.0 to 12.5 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the divergence angle of the beam is 12.5 to 15.0 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery profile further comprises a spot shape, and wherein the spot shape comprises square, rectangular, circular, elliptical, triangular, trapezoidal, or torus shape. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause operations comprising:
 generating, using an electromagnetic radiation generator, a laser beam;   determining, using a computerized scanning system, a delivery profile for the laser beam, wherein the delivery profile comprises a focal point and produces a spot on an anterior surface of an iris, wherein the laser beam converges at the focal point and then diverges, posterior to the iris, at a divergence angle, from the focal point, wherein the divergence angle is less than 15.0 degrees, and wherein a diameter of the spot is less than 15 millimeters; and   applying, using the computerized scanning system, the laser beam to the anterior surface of the iris with the delivery profile.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the diameter of the spot is 1 to 10 microns. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the spot is 10 to 50 microns. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the diameter of the spot is 50 to 100 microns. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the diameter of the spot is 100 to 200 microns. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the diameter of the spot is 200 to 500 microns. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein and the diameter of the spot is 200 to 500 microns. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the divergence angle of the beam is 2.5 to 5.0 degrees. 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the divergence angle of the beam is 5.0 to 7.5 degrees. 
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the divergence angle of the beam is 7.5 to 10.0 degrees. 
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the divergence angle of the beam is 10.0 to 12.5 degrees. 
     
     
         28 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the divergence angle of the beam is 12.5 to 15.0 degrees. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the delivery profile further comprises a spot shape, and wherein the spot shape comprises square, rectangular, circular, elliptical, triangular, trapezoidal, or torus shape.