By: Fabiola Grosshan
Submitted: 2010-05-13 06:58:13 | Word Count: 453
The first laser was successfully tested in 1960 by the American physicist Theodore Maiman, at the Hughes Research Laboratories. This was a landmark development in the long history of the laser, which up until that point had remained a theoretical concept. In the decades that followed, scientists and engineers worked to develop more and more advanced laser devices that came to be used in a variety of medical fields. It was in the field of ophthalmology, however, that the laser made one of the biggest impacts. Today, computerization and digital technology have led to the creation of truly high tech ophthalmological laser devices. Here are just a few of the most widely used ones.
The Nd:YAG Laser
Nd:YAG stands for “neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet”, which refers to the crystal that is used to generate the laser itself. The YAG laser can be switched from continuous to pulsed, depending on the required application. Its versatility makes the YAG laser one of the most important lasers in the ophthalmological field, and it is particularly useful in the treatment of posterior capsular opacification, peripheral iridotomy and pan-retinal photocoagulation in patients with diabetic retinopathy.
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The Argon Laser
The argon laser was invented by William Bridges at the Hughes Aircraft Company in 1964. The argon laser is a type of ion laser that uses noble gases to activate the laser beam. In ophthalmology, argon laser photocoagulation is used for retinal phototherapy and the treatment of neovascular eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy and (more recently) macular diseases like central serous retinopathy, and senile macular degeneration.
Green Lasers
Green laser devices are also used in the treatment of retinopathy. In recent years there has been research in the use of green lasers to treat retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), one of the leading causes of blindness in many developing countries. ROP affects premature infants who suffer from immature vasculature of the eyes.
Combo Laser
Combo lasers combine two or more ophthalmological lasers into one device. Most commonly, the YAG and Green lasers and combined. Combo lasers allow doctors increased versatility during certain treatment procedures.
The Excimer Laser
An Excimer laser is a widely used tool in the field of optometry. LSIK and other types of laser eye surgery are performed using the Excimer laser. What makes the Excimer unique is that rather than burning through matter, it shoots just enough energy to break apart the molecular bonds of the eye’s surface tissue. The molecules disintegrate without any thermal damage. The Excimer laser allows for incredible precision, and lets doctors remove ultra thin layers of eye matter without affecting surrounding healthy tissue.
