Laser Surgery
The word laser is an acronym for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.” Simply put, a laser is a concentrated beam of light which is created when electric current passes through a special material. Lasers are used in two different ways in ophthalmology. Thermal lasers, argon and krypton, are used to seal blood vessels that are leaking, destroy tumors, repair retinal tears and open or create filters for the treatment of glaucoma. Photodisruptive lasers, YAG and excimer, are used to cut thin membranes and change corneal shape.