laser surgery
Quick Summary
Laser surgery uses a precisely controlled light beam to dissect and destroy tissue with minimal bleeding. This technique is valuable because lasers can be "tuned" to specific wavelengths, allowing them to selectively target certain cells or lesions with minimal damage to surrounding tissues.12
Applications include:
* Destroying birthmarks like port-wine stains.12
* Treating inner eye conditions, such as welding a detached retina or cutting cloudy membranes after cataract surgery.123
* Removing abnormal blood vessels in the retina to prevent blindness.2
* Reshaping the cornea to correct vision problems, as in LASIK surgery.24
* Breaking up kidney stones using optical fibres inserted into the kidney.2
* Treating skin conditions, removing tattoos, and reducing wrinkles.23
Lasers can also cauterize cuts, stopping bleeding, and are used with optical fibres for hard-to-reach internal areas.12
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