Ablation and etching of the surface of polymethyl methacrylate (=PMMA) by pulses of 248 nm laser radiation ∼20 ns full width at half maximum (FWHM) have been probed by pulses of visible laser radiation (596 nm; < 1 ns FWHM). The results were recorded photographically in real time with a set time delay between the 248 nm ablation pulse and the 596 nm probe pulse. Modification of the surface structure of the polymer at a fluence ∼ 3 J/cm2 is first visible at 12 ns and appears to be complete in ∼ 60 ns. The first manifestation of the ablation does not occur until the UV pulse is over and consists of a nearly transparent shock-wave that has an initial velocity of 6 ∼ 104 cm/sec. Solid material from the ablated zone begins to leave the surface at ∼150 - 200 ns and reaches a maximum in intensity at 6 µs, continuing for ∼ 20 µs. The average velocity of the solid material, which is probably a low molecular weight polymer of PMMA, is 1.5 ∼ 104 cm/sec. The conclusion to be drawn from the present work is that the signal measured by photoacoustic detectors does not coincide with the bulk of the material leaving the surface.