Lasers to treat eye cancer

Laser eye surgery is already a commonplace procedure, most particularly in the field of corrective vision, and now lasers have found a new application in ophthalmology as a treatment for eye cancer.

Researchers at James Cancer Hospital of Ohio State University have been exploring the use of lasers to destroy melanomas that are thin and sufficiently far from the optic nerve. They believe that, if the patient is diagnosed with a cancer of this type at an early enough stage, it could prevent blindness and even save the life of the patient.

The only treatments for this rare type of cancer, up until now, have been radiation therapy or the removal of the eye. Laser surgery, which may last only a few minutes, is a very promising alternative.

Source: HealthNewsDigest.com