275Modeling of Laser-Induced Thermal Damage to the Retina and the Cornea
etal. 1996), and the innermost layer of the choroid is sometimes also included (about
20 μm, Birngruber etal. 1985). Such a separation distance between the RPE and pig-
mented choroid has an effect of several tenths of a microsecond in delaying the heat
wave traveling from the choroid toward the RPE (the RPE is the critical layer for ther-
mal injury at threshold level). Therefore, it has a minor effect, only impacting very
short pulses or exposures at the long wavelength end of IR-A where the choroid plays
an important role.
15.6.1.2 Regional Variations
Also of importance is the variation of morphology throughout the retinal surface.
Photoreceptor distribution, vessel ...