Laser Surgery

Laser surgery is surgery using a laser (instead of a scalpel) to cut tissue. 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.

Green laser surgery is used for the treatment/reduction of enlarged prostates. Laser surgery is much safer than normal surgery as it makes no physical contact so no infections are spread.

Types of surgical lasers include carbon dioxide, argon, Nd:YAG, and KTP.