How are lasers used to treat eye diseases?

There are two different ways that lasers are used to treat eye diseases:

Thermal Lasers (Argon and Krypton). The light is converted to heat when it reaches the eye.

The heat is used to:

• Seal blood vessels (veins and arteries) that are bleeding or leaking fluids
• Destroy abnormal tissue such as a tumor
• Bond the retina to the back of the eye
• Open the eye’s filtration system for glaucoma treatment
• Create an opening in the iris for treatment of narrow-angle glaucoma

Photodisruptive Lasers (YAG and Excimer). The light cuts or sculpts the tissue, similar to a knife. The beam of light is used to:

• Cut thin membranes inside the eye that are blocking vision
• Change the shape of the eye’s surface.