Laser in ophthalmology, present and future applications Available to Purchase

Lasers are used ophthalmology for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Lasers are currently used theraputically in the management of glaucoma, cataracts and retinal disease. These applications depend upon the nature of the interaction between laser light and ocular tissues as well as the optical properties of those tissues. Most therapeutic applications of lasers involve light absorption and heating of target tissues. In recent years, recognition of the significance of the spectral characteristics of absorbing pigments in the eye has led to progressively more stringent demands on clinical instrumentation. The disadvantages of blue light in blue-green argon laser photocoagulators have been recognized, red krypton and monochromatic green argon laser photocoagulators have been recognized, red krypton and monochromatic green argon laser photocoagulators have been introduced, and a new generation of wavelength-selectable instruments are under development. In addition, it has become possible to manipulate ocular tissues that are transparent to visible light with thermal effects from 10.6 micron CO₂ laser radiation and ionizing/mechanical effects from Q-switched neodymium-YAG laser radiation. New developments in the design of therapeutic laser instrumentation should make clinical therapy safer and more convenient. These developments will include improved viewing systems, reflectometry methods to assess tissue characteristics prior to and during photo-coagulation, and eyetracker-stabilization during treatment.