Lasers in Ophthalmology – Mnemonic

Order of decreasing wavelength

Mnemonic: CHyNa PuRE

The laser tissue interaction can be remembered in the reverse order using the mnemonic ACiDiTy.

1. Carbon dioxide (CO2): 10600 (photoThermal)
2. Holmium YAG: 2100 (photoDisruption)
3. Nd:YAG: 1064 (photoDisruption)
4. Pulsed dye laser: 585-600 (photoChemical)
5. aRgon green: 514 (photoChemical)
6. Excimer: 193 (photoAblation)

Indications of Laser

aRgon

Mnemonic: R for aRgon and R for Retina

Used in retinal photocoagulation.

pulsed Dye laser

Mnemonic: D for Dye and D for Dermatology

1. Used in port wine stain
2. Used in strawberry birthmarks

Carbon-di-oxide

Mnemonic: C for CO2 and C for Central/middle ear

1. Stapedectomy
2. Tympanomastoidectomy

Holmium YAG laser

Mnemonic: H for Holmium and H for Hollow tube

1. Hollow ureter blocked: Lithotripsy
2. Hollow urethra blocked: BPH or Urethral stricture

Excimer

Mnemonic: Ex for ExCimer and Ex for External eye (Cornea)

1. Corneoplasty using LASIK

Nd:YAG

Mnemonic: Its use is in eye other than Cornea (excimer is used) and Retina (argon is used).

1. Posteiror capsulotomy
2. Iridotomy
3. Vitreolysis