Surgeons see new yag laser

Press, 16 August 1985, Page 2

Surgeons see new yag laser

A new laser that can replace surgery for certain eye problems has been introduced in New Zealand.

The yag laser was on hand at the Christchurch Town Hall yesterday for demonstration to New Zealand surgeons attending their annual conference.. The $165,000 laser approved in the United States 18 months ago, has already been distributed to a number of New Zealand hospital for trials by Michev Medical. The managing director of the company, Mr Mike Peterson, said that 120 patients in Auckland were treated by ophthalmologists using the laser during three days. It had been used suc-

cessfully in the Christchurch Hospital during the last month, he said.

“Surgery has traditionally been used to cut certain membranes within the eye that are blocking vision,” Mr Peterson said. “This yag laser, with its two tiny helium neon beams, strikes the membrane for one millionth of a second and gently disperses it. “The laser beam is 10 times hotter than the sun and used on different sections of the membrane to completely disperse it. The process takes only a short time and the patient can then get up and walk out.”

“Tests are under way in the United States using the

laser to treat glaucoma, an eye condition caused by increased pressure of fluid within the eyeball.” A patient treated with the laser did not have to face the risks of general anaesthetic or infection after eye surgery, Mr Peterson said.

“The yag laser is one of about five laser types available. Christchurch Women’s Hospital uses a surgical laser for cervical cancer and argon lasers are used in some New Zealand hospitals to check retina bleedings, mainly in diabetics.

“This laser can also remove tattoos and even port wine birth marks.”