Lasers 2025
CO2 Laser - answer-Most frequently used in surgery
-Beam (light) is invisible
-Superficial tissue interaction
-Laser beam is absorbed by water
-Not effective for use if the light needs to be transmitted through clear fluids EX: Eyes,
bladder
-One of the most common uses is treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (HPV) &
genital warts
Krypton Laser - answer-Active medium: Krypton gas
-Similar to argon laser
-Operates in the visible light spectrum emitting a red-yellow light beam
-Absorbed by pigment found in blood & retinal epithelium
-Primarily used in ophthalmology
-Since beam is absorbed less by hemoglobin than argon beam, ophthalmologists are
using this wavelength to more selectively destroy tissue on the retina
Argon Laser - answer-Another popular laser system for ophthalmology, dermatology, &
general applications
-Active medium: gas
-Delivery system: fiber optic cable
-Receives energy from blue-green spectrum
-Can be transmitted through tissues without heating them
-The argon energy is highly absorbed by hemoglobin, melanin, and other similar
pigmentation and is less absorbed by lighter tissues
-Laser beam is visible, aiming beam is not necessary
-Can travel through clear fluids & tissues
-Useful for treatment of diabetic retinopathy, a condition which bleeding vessels on the
retina impair vision. The cornea, lens, & vitrous are unaffected by transmission of the
beam
-The blue-green argon is also used to photocoagulate pigmented cutaneous lesions
such as capillary hemangiomas, age spots, strawberry marks, & port-wine stains
May be used to remove tattoos
Excimer Laser - answer-Derives its name through the use of an active gas medium
-The gas medium used is extremely toxic, or lethal and can cause genetic mutations by
separating the hydrogen bonds in DNA
-Produces a cool beam
-Extremely precise, can remove 9 millionths of an inch of tissue in 12 billionths of a
second
-Popular for significant ablative capabilities
CO2 Laser - answer-Most frequently used in surgery
-Beam (light) is invisible
-Superficial tissue interaction
-Laser beam is absorbed by water
-Not effective for use if the light needs to be transmitted through clear fluids EX: Eyes,
bladder
-One of the most common uses is treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (HPV) &
genital warts
Krypton Laser - answer-Active medium: Krypton gas
-Similar to argon laser
-Operates in the visible light spectrum emitting a red-yellow light beam
-Absorbed by pigment found in blood & retinal epithelium
-Primarily used in ophthalmology
-Since beam is absorbed less by hemoglobin than argon beam, ophthalmologists are
using this wavelength to more selectively destroy tissue on the retina
Argon Laser - answer-Another popular laser system for ophthalmology, dermatology, &
general applications
-Active medium: gas
-Delivery system: fiber optic cable
-Receives energy from blue-green spectrum
-Can be transmitted through tissues without heating them
-The argon energy is highly absorbed by hemoglobin, melanin, and other similar
pigmentation and is less absorbed by lighter tissues
-Laser beam is visible, aiming beam is not necessary
-Can travel through clear fluids & tissues
-Useful for treatment of diabetic retinopathy, a condition which bleeding vessels on the
retina impair vision. The cornea, lens, & vitrous are unaffected by transmission of the
beam
-The blue-green argon is also used to photocoagulate pigmented cutaneous lesions
such as capillary hemangiomas, age spots, strawberry marks, & port-wine stains
May be used to remove tattoos
Excimer Laser - answer-Derives its name through the use of an active gas medium
-The gas medium used is extremely toxic, or lethal and can cause genetic mutations by
separating the hydrogen bonds in DNA
-Produces a cool beam
-Extremely precise, can remove 9 millionths of an inch of tissue in 12 billionths of a
second
-Popular for significant ablative capabilities
