laser therapy


laser therapy

Any medical use of lasers for purposes designed to improve the state of patients. Laser therapy includes simple bloodless tissue cutting; destroying or sealing unwanted blood vessels; tumour destruction; unblocking obstructed FALLOPIAN TUBES to restore fertility; removal of tattoos and birthmarks; removal of atherosclerotic plaque and thrombosis inside arteries so as to restore patency; removal of prostate gland tissue causing outflow obstruction; precision corneal curvature adjustment to correct refractive errors; treatment of glaucoma by opening eye aqueous drainage channels (see LASER TRABECULOPLASTY); destroying peripheral parts of the retina so as to allow regression of dangerously fragile new blood vessels in DIABETIC RETINOPATHY; and attempting to promote healing in sprains, inflamed tendons and painful joints. See also LASER.