Lasers and Medicine

Ever since the first laser was operated in May of 1960, the Laser has become the wonder of the
physics world. There are many kinds of laser, but to define it in very basic terms; a laser is a
machine that uses mirrors and light to create an electric torch, of sorts. It incorporates gases or
crystals to make the light only a single color. The mirrors are used to amplify (or make stronger)
that color and to make the light travel in just one direction. This allows the beam to become very
narrow. With this extremely narrow beam of light, moving at accelerated speeds, the laser can be
aimed with exactness. With that exactness, amazing things can occur.
Lasers have application in almost every aspect of modern life. They are being used in our
grocery stores, in the form of barcode scanners. Lasers are used in the garment industry to allow
for accurate and fast cutting of materials, all controlled by a single computer. Fiber optic cables
pass information along their lines with greater speed and accuracy, thanks to lasers. Lasers have
also improved the manufacturing of car parts. Surveyors use lasers to plot distance with extreme
accuracy on land, as well as being used in space to survey the distance between two points.
Lasers and their list of uses, can go on and on, but for the purpose of this paper I would like to
focus my research on lasers and the influence they have made in the world of medicine. The
emphasis of my college studies is in the field of medical science and for that reason, I am
fascinated by the amazing advancements that have been made possible during the past 50 years,
thanks to the discovery of the laser.
Eye Correction Surgery
As far back as the beginning of man, the human eye has been in need of correction. Sometimes
due to problems from birth or perhaps accidents which have impaired vision or just the changes
that occur with advancing years, eyes have and will continue to require medical attention. Back
in the late 1800s the first type of corrective eye surgery was performed. It was designed to
correct nearsightedness. The procedure required the making of several small incisions in the
surface of the cornea, radiating outward like the spokes of a bicycle wheel. By doing this the
cornea would flatten, changing the way light was focused on the retina. The greatest
disadvantage to this procedure was that the results were very hard to predict. Patients also
experienced a degree of pain as well as a loss of vision during the time that the cornea was
healing. In the 1990s this procedure was improved by making one incision, with a special blade
called a microkeratome. This incision would create a flap, tissue would be removed and the flap
would be replaced. This process had more predictable results but many patients still reported a
number of side effects and a length recovery.
Thanks to laser technology, in 1995 and again in 1999 and most recently, in 2005, laser eye
surgery has changed this entire procedure. The most recent improvement has made it no longer
necessary to use scalpels to make incisions on the surface of the eye. Lasers now do that with
much greater accuracy and minimal damage to the tissues. During a short surgical procedure
only one small opening is made, into which a small lens is inserted. This lens works with the

eyes natural optical system to enhance its performance. No tissue is removed and the results are
almost instant. Recovery time is reduced to almost nothing and there is little or no pain. The
results are extremely predictable and will last for many years. How exciting to live during a time
of such great innovation and discovery. The idea of having eye surgery is much less frightening
and the results are far more powerful.
Laser-Assisted Dentistry
Laser technology is a way of providing dental care without the long uncomfortable procedures
that most of us experience during a visit to our dentist. Anyone who has ever had a cavity filled
will recall the common experience. The sound of the drill, the pain of the needle when injecting
the Novocain, the blood and the damage to tissues as well as the hours of waiting for the
numbing to wear off following the procedure. With the development of laser technology for
dentistry these are all concerns of the past.
The Nd-YAG laser (which uses a crystal for its lasing medium) replaces the drill for most
cavities. The laser treatment takes advantage of the simple fact that the material that forms in a
cavity is much softer than the enamel (the hard part of a tooth). The laser is set at a power that is
just strong enough to eliminate the decayed tissue but not strong enough to harm the enamel.
When treating a very deep cavity bleeding sometimes occurs, and the laser beam often seals off
blood vessels and stops the bleeding. This procedure is almost painless. Since the laser lasts
only thirty-trillionths of a second, there is not enough time for the body to recognize pain.
Because there is no pain it is not necessary to use an anesthetic and thus no down time waiting
for the numbness to disappear. Pediatric dentists find that the use of lasers in their practice is
producing a much calmer clientele. When children are not frightened to return to the dentist,
early childhood concerns can be cared for more efficiently leading to a healthier mouth into
adulthood.
Lasers and Arteries
Lasers are becoming increasingly more popular as one of the best ways to clean plaque from
arteries. Previous to using lasers, the process of removing plaque from individuals arteries
consisted of opening the chest and making several incisions. This was a very long and sometimes
risky process. This method was extremely expensive and required weeks for recovery. With the
new development of lasers, they found that they were able to burn away the plaque instead of
having to manually remove it. They have found that in using lasers to do this procedure, that it
requires no incision in the patient, there is little or no bleeding, and the patient can enjoy total
recovery in a day or two.

The landscape of medical and surgical practices have changed significantly during the past 100
years, even during the past 50 years. Most of those changes have been moves toward great
improvement and prolonged life for the patients. Just about the time when you think that things
are amazing enough another great mind comes up with another idea. Others take that idea and
build on it until the innovation is useful and marketable. Lasers are just that sort of innovation.
Back in the 1960s who would have thought that doctors would be using lasers to cut into
peoples eyes to correct vision issues, or that lasers would be used to smooth ruff and wrinkly
skin. Who would have thought that lasers would be used to treat cancers or to break up plaque in
the veins? Thanks to the discovery of the laser, medical science has a new and more powerful
tool that can be used to effect the lives of all mankind for the better. How fortunate we are to live
during this time and to witness the power of great scientific minds at work.

http://www.scienceclarified.com/scitech/Lasers/Medical-Uses-of-Lasers.html#ixzz3Xu0TkxEv
http://visianinfo.com/about-visian-icl/history-of-eye-correction/