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Principles of Laser Therapy

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Clinical Ophthalmic Oncology

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Abstract

Since its inception, laser has been increasingly used for treatment of multiple ocular conditions. Stimulated emission of photons in a lasing medium produces laser beams that vary in their energy according to their wavelength. Ophthalmic lasers could produce thermal, chemical, or mechanical effects on ocular tissues. The factors that determine the laser effects include the degree of absorption of a specific laser wavelength by the tissue pigments, laser power, the size of laser spot on the target tissue, the duration of application, and media clarity.

Ophthalmic lasers are delivered through slit lamp, indirect ophthalmoscope, or fiber-optic probe. Advanced delivery systems enabled more tolerable, precise, and shorter treatment sessions that can be monitored on a wide screen.

Techniques of ophthalmic laser therapy include laser photocoagulation, transpupillary thermotherapy, and photodynamic therapy. These techniques are employed in ophthalmic oncology to treat a variety of intraocular and periocular tumors. Laser is used as a primary or adjuvant treatment and as a treatment for some radiation-induced toxicities.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ocular Oncology Service, Princess Margaret Cancer Center/University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Hatem Krema

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  1. Hatem Krema
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmic Oncology, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Arun D. Singh

  2. Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK

    Bertil E. Damato

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Krema, H. (2019). Principles of Laser Therapy. In: Singh, A., Damato, B. (eds) Clinical Ophthalmic Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04489-3_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04489-3_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-04488-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-04489-3

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