Lasers and Dangers

The term laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation and may be the sexiest acronym in the human lexicon. It carries with it visions of Star Wars, connotations of unfettered power, and a mystique of benevolent utility. The very nuance of the term is that of something embodying everlasting welfare we dont know what it means but it sure sounds great! it has been made the subject of unprecedented media hype and has acquired a reputation for accuracy and applicability some of it justified, some not.

There is no question that such device, through the beam of electromagnetic radiation that they emit, are extremely powerful things. It is however, this very power that makes them extremely dangerous devices. Dangerous, not only in their manifest (as well as latent) power, but in their ability to fascinate, nay mesmerize us perhaps into applying them in ways that may prove to be more harmful than beneficial.

After half my life time in UK from 1978, I was fortunate to be the first Doctor to introduce Lasik Laser in England in 1995 and in India in February 96 and completed 21,000+ Lasik procedures. I always said that there is a good, there is a bad and there is even an ugly side to laser procedures. Recently there are press reports to say that Asian eyes are at risk with Lasik laser surgery, but this is what I was saying from the beginning because we noticed, in the beginning of 1996, in England, that 15% of patients in general are not suitable for Lasik as they have thin corneas and this percentage is more in Asians ie., about 25%. At Maxivision in one day we had to reject seven out of seven patients , proving the importance of not operating than operating.

Therefore, it is important not to operate on those patients at risk and create problems for them and bring a wonderful procedure into disrepute. The ugly side of Lasik procedure really is not appreciated straight after the operation but can be a long term problem. This is why an important judgment on the part of the Doctor is most beneficial to the patient. The procedure really is God sent to benefit those who are suitable.

Technology in all fields is constantly changing. In the eye there are umpteen laser machines which have certain advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is up to the individual doctor to know about these machines and use them to the benefit of their patients. For instance at Maxivision eye hospital we have constantly upgraded our machines and we have four different types of machines from 1996 and that is the reason why we have different techniques.

While Lasik is something that all machines can do, the new wavefront technique and the Tissue saving technology can only be done by one machine. I therefore repeat that an important judgment on the part of the doctor is most beneficial to the patient and that makes the procedure a God sent procedure to benefit those who are suitable.