Summary: Dr. Manns' laboratory studies the optics of the eye and the use of lasers for the treatment and diagnostic of eye diseases.

Fabrice Manns, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Ophthalmology

View published research articles by this doctor in the National Library of Medicine.

Current Research Summary: The Laser Laboratory was created in 1986 by Ophthalmic Biophysics Center (OBC) Director Dr. Parel with the dual mission to develop new laser systems for the treatment of ocular diseases and to study the optical effects of refractive surgery procedures. Dr. Manns is the Director of the OBC Laser Laboratory and also serves as OBC Co-Director. Dr. Manns is also Director of the Optics and Laser Laboratory located in the Department of Biomedical Engineering on the Coral Gables Campus.

The following are a few current projects of the laser laboratory. Additional projects are listed under Dr. Parel and at the University of Miami Department of Biomedical Engineering website.

• Dynamics of collagen tissue shrinkage: Several clinical procedures in ophthalmology, such as laser and conductive thermokeratoplasty use heat to change the shape of the cornea and correct hyperopia (farsightedness). Heat induced by lasers is also used in laser scleral buckling, an experimental procedure that was invented at the Ophthalmic Biophysics Center Laser Laboratory by Dr. Parel and his colleagues as a minimally-invasive treatment for retinal detachment. The common problem with these procedures is that they lack long-term stability. In this project, the team studies the time and temperature response of laser-induced thermal shrinkage of the cornea and sclera to improve the outcome of procedures relying on shrinkage. These studies will also provide information on the biomechanical properties of the cornea and the effect of age and swelling (Supported by a Whitaker Foundation Biomedical Engineering Research Grant)
  
  
• Optics of wavefront-guided customized laser corneal reshaping: Several new laser procedures and laser systems for corneal reshaping to correct refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism have been developed over the years at the Ophthalmic Biophysics Center Laser Laboratory. The laboratory was at the forefront of the development of new laser systems using small scanning spots with reshaping patterns customized based on the patient's corneal topography. This work included the investigation of novel ultraviolet solid-state laser sources emitting at 213 nm and the development of the mathematical theory and models for aspheric and customized ablations using small scanning beams. Current studies include investigations on the optical effects and theoretical limitations of wavefront-guided customized laser corneal reshaping for PRK and LASIK surgery.