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The Advantages of the Excimer Laser

Excimer lasers use electric discharge to project combination light beams of a noble gas, a halogen and a buffer gas like neon or helium in the ultraviolet light spectrum. Because ultraviolet light is delivered in short wavelengths, the excimer laser has many uses. The Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology cites some of these as detailed laser markings, psoriasis treatment and eye surgery.

  1. Focused Light Projection

    • The Exitech company in Oxford, England creates microelectronics used during chip and mask repair, wafer annealing, markings and interconnect hole drilling. All of these processes require adequate lighting conditions. Before excimer laser discovery, computer component repair specialists used large light beams that ultimately slow down work progress due to a large diffusion of light. Study results of micro and macro projectors manufactured with excimer lasers showed effective delivery of high ultraviolet light in narrow beam projections. Prior to this discovery, large light beams had to be broken into smaller components with kaleidoscopes, mirrors, diffuser plates and prisms.

    Cutting Without Tissue Damage

    • The clean precise cutting ability of the excimer laser was discovered in 1981 by a photochemist, a materials science specialist and a physicist. The team publicized the laser's ability with a laser-etched image of a human hair. The publication led ophthalmologist Dr. Stephen Trokel to conduct research on using the laser to reshape the cornea to correct nearsightedness and farsightedness. Until their research, surgeons had difficulty conducting this kind of eye surgery due to the potential dangers of scalpel use. In 1995, their research led to the approval of excimer-based laser eye surgery by the Food and Drug Administration.

    Faster Phototherapy

    • Phototherapy is a common treatment for vitiligo patients as it helps to generate pigmentation in the skin. A pilot study conducted at New York's Mount Sinai School of Medicine experimented with excimer laser light over a period of two to four weeks for this phototherapy. Researchers compared results from the excimer laser with those of an established treatment protocol which uses a combination of broadband and narrowband ultraviolet radiation. The study found that subjects treated with the excimer laser experienced greater pigmentation in the same time frame.

    Convenience

    • The Aetna health insurance company issued a bulletin hailing excimer laser treatment as a medical necessity for psoriasis. The bulletin cites the benefits of faster phototherapy, fewer treatments and the subsequent decreased potential for ultraviolet radiation side effects as primary benefits of the treatment. Dermatologist John Meisenheimer cites several other advantages to psoriatic treatment with the laser. Although treatment is topical, it does not provide the inconvenience of cream applications. Unlike invasive surgery, it is painless, with no downtime for recovery. Finally, treatment is localized so as not to affect surrounding healthy tissue.

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