title: Complications of argon laser retinal photocoagulation: a five-year study.
abstract: The operator must become familiar with the dangers involved with argon laser photocoagulation. The hazards in the use of the argon laser slit-lamp photocoagulator derive from the same properties of the instrument that make it advantageous for the treatment of retinal vascular diseases: the wavelengths are highly absorbed by blood, and the beam can be focused to a small diameter. Of course complications can be avoided entirely by using applications so light the virtually no effect is obtained; but such an approach, although safe, cannot be therapeutic.
mesh_terms: D001128:Argon; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000601:surgery; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000293:injuries; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000209:etiology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D001128:Argon