Lasers in medicine--a review

Laser systems permit very high energy radiation of a single wavelength to be focused on a tiny spot, and have found application in many areas of engineering. They are also currently used in many branches of medicine. The fields reviewed here are ophthalmology, gynaecology, dermatology, otolaryngology, gastroenterology and physiotherapy. Lasers which are in wide use for medical applications include argon, YAG and carbon dioxide types. In many areas, lasers have been found to be more effective than conventional treatment methods with advantages including less blood loss, more accurate removal of unwanted tissue, shorter operating time and less postoperative pain. It is expected that the next decade will see the laser as an everyday tool in many more medical applications.