Optometric Lasers

Lasers are widely used in optometry because light can reach almost any internal eye structure almost without offense

. The first use of light in optometry can be dated back to 1946 when a German ophthalmologist Gerd Meyer-Schwickerath used light to coagulate human retinal tissue. He sealed off retinal tears with the light of a xenon arc lamp producing tiny burns in the retina. This technique revolutionized the world of optometry. After the first laser was demonstrated in 1960 by Theodore Maiman, it quickly became an efficient tool in the field of corrective eye treatment. Today's technology has made it possible to develop a wide variety of lasers, each with its own technical specifications and use. There are the five most common kinds of lasers used in optometry: YAG laser, excimer laser, microkeratome femtosecond laser, Krypton lasers and argon laser.

The YAG laser, one of the most common types of lasers, is a solid-state laser used in various fields like ophthalmology. YAG lasers have a 1054 mm wavelength and can be operated in pulsed mode as well as continuous mode. The most common eye surgeries in which the YAG laser is used are cataract surgery and peripheral iridotomy. YAG lasers with frequencies of 532mm wavelengths are used for photocoagulation.

The excimer laser is probably the most widely used kinds of lasers in optometry. Instead of burning through matter, excimer lasers shoot out energy that breaks apart the molecular bonds of the eye's surface tissue. These molecules thus disintegrate into the air, and there is no burning involved. Excimer lasers can remove incredibly thin layers of eye material without impacting the remaining tissue. So these types of lasers are often used in precision surgeries.

The microkeratome laser is designed to forego the blade and use ultrashort-pulse femtosecond lasers to make the cut instead, which can minimize risks inherent in the microkeratome blade method. The microkeratome is a mechanical shaver that cuts a very thin flap out of the exterior layer of the cornea to allow for laser surgery.

The Krypton laser is a kind of gas laser using krypton ions in combination with electronic discharges, which is commonly used to treat macular degeneration, a disease that shows up often in the group of elderly people and results in the loss of a central field of vision due to a damaged retina.

The argon laser discovered by William R. Bennett can be emitted at various wavelengths in the ultraviolet spectrum. They commonly used in retinal phototherapy procedures. Diabetic patients often suffer from diabetic retinopathy. Argon lasers are used for panretinal photocoagulation to prevent retinopathy from further damage. They are also used in treating open-angle glaucoma.

by: Jay Furlong

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