Photocoagulation as introduced by Meyer-Schwickerath1 in 1954 was a revolutionary advance of unquestioned value to ophthalmology but one with definite limitations to its usefulness. The investion of the laser gave us a new source and kind of light.2 This kind of light applied to photocoagulation promises to extend its usefulness.
Laser coagulation is not the same thing as ordinary photocoagulation arranged in a more convenient package. It has its own characteristic properties, some of which are advantageous, and some of which are not. In addition, a number of question marks exist concerning laser coagulation which only time, trial, and experimentation will answer. In the short period since 1960 when the first laser was fired, a number of workers3-5 have used lasers to produce retinal coagulation, the first being Zaret et al.
In conjunction with N. Kapany, N. Silbertrust, and N. Peppers of Optics Technology, Inc., we have