Type of Surgery

Information

Doctor Certified

Last updated: 11/24/2009

Purpose

Laser surgery is used to:

  • cut or destroy tissue that is abnormal or diseased without harming healthy, normal tissue
  • shrink or destroy tumors and lesions
  • close off nerve endings to reduce postoperative pain
  • cauterize...

    (seal) blood vessels to reduce blood loss
  • seal lymph vessels to minimize swelling and decrease spread of tumor cells
  • remove moles, warts, and tattoos
  • decrease the appearance of skin wrinkles

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This narrated animation describes the function of the major structures of the eye, namely the pupil, iris, lens, cornea, and retina.

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Cosmetic laser surgery in progress. The wavelengths of the laser's light can be matched to a specific target, enabling the physician to destroy the capillaries near the skin's surface without damaging the surrounding tissue. (Photograph by Will & Deni McIntyre, Photo Researchers, Inc. Reproduced by permission.) Cosmetic laser surgery in progress. The wavelengths of the laser's light can be matched to a specific target, enabling the physician to destroy the capillaries near the skin's surface without damaging the surrounding tissue. (Photograph by Will & Deni McIntyre, Photo Researchers, Inc. Reproduced by permission.)




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Other Information

Laser surgery is surgery using a laser to cut tissue instead of a scalpel. Examples include the use of a laser scalpel in otherwise conventional surgery, and soft tissue laser surgery, in which the laser beam vaporizes soft tissue with high water content. Laser resurfacing is a technique in which molecular bonds of a material are dissolved by a laser.

Laser surgery is commonly used on the eye. Techniques used include LASIK, which is used to correct near- and far-sightedness in vision, and photorefractive keratectomy, a procedure which permanently reshapes the cornea using an excimer laser to remove a small amount of tissue.


From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_surgery

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