The Laser Spine Institute abruptly shuttered in March 2019, leaving hundreds of patients in the lurch amid questions about how such a formidable player in the health care world could have fallen so far, and so fast. The lawsuit, among several in which the company was embroiled, was a major reason.

Laser spine surgery treats herniated discs up to 70% effectiveness in patients. The laser evaporates the herniated discs' nucleus, causing the bulging disc portion to recede and relieve compression on your nerves.

One of the main potential complications from laser back surgery is damage to the surrounding tissue. Because a laser is used for the procedure, heat damage can occur to surrounding nerves, bone, and cartilage. Another possible complication is infection.

The study, which took into account almost 20,000 procedures, found a success rate ranging from 70% to 89%. Long term follow‐up to 23 years found a recurrence rate of 4% to 5%.

You might notice increased light sensitivity, glare, halos around bright lights or double vision. Even when a good visual result is measured under standard testing conditions, your vision in dim light (such as at dusk or in fog) may be reduced to a greater degree after the surgery than before the surgery.

Laser therapy can result in misdirected or excessively intense burns, bleeding from the choriocapillaris, damage to macular and other ocular structures, and breaks in Bruch's membrane.

LASIK surgery has a good track record. Complications are rare, and most people are satisfied with the results. Certain side effects, particularly dry eyes and temporary visual issues (such as glare), are fairly common.

Common side effects include temporary redness, skin irritation, a warm sensation during treatment, and a temporary increase in pain or discomfort. These reactions are generally mild and subside within a few hours or days.

Injuries resulting from staring into the laser beam include permanent damage to the eye and subsequent partial or total loss of vision. Injuries from lasers can also occur when the beam is shone into the eyes of unsuspecting people. This can result in a 'dazzle effect' where the exposure leads to disorientation.

The NCCIH says laser therapy for back pain is safe for most people, depending on their state of health and whether they are pregnant. To ensure it is the right procedure for them, a person can ask their doctor about what the procedure involves and the potential risks and benefits.

The human body is vulnerable to the output of certain lasers, and under certain circumstances, exposure can result in damage to the eye and skin. Research relating to injury thresholds of the eye and skin has been carried out in order to understand the biological hazards of laser radiation.

These include both direct beam hazards such as tissue burns, eye damage, endotracheal tube fire, drape fire, and explosion of gases, or non-beam hazards (those that are secondary to the actual beam interaction) such as laser generated airborne contaminants (surgical plume), electrical damage, toxic dyes, and system ...