Type of Surgery
Information

Last updated: 11/24/2009
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.
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.
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