Einstein and Lasers

Albert Einstein conceived the principles of the laser nearly a century ago. Though many would argue his greatest contribution to science remains the theory of relativity, Einstein did not receive the Nobel Prize for that body of work. He did receive it, though, for his work on the photoelectric effect. For decades, scientists had observed and wondered why electrons were emitted when light shines on a metal surface. In a 1905 paper, Einstein demonstrated how matter could absorb and emit light energy, the energy of photons, and he provided a theoretical explanation for the photoelectric effect. That work would form the basis of Einstein’s 1917 paper where he proposed that a photon of energy, or light, might be emitted by excited atoms - the laser effect.

Today, the treatment of diabetic retinopathy to prevent blindness is one of the leading applications of lasers in ophthalmology. Just half a century ago, a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy meant you would probably end up blind. It was just a matter of when. Due to lasers alone, diabetic retinal disease, and for that matter a number of retinal and ophthalmic conditions such as retinal tears, detachments, tumors, and glaucoma, are no longer the threat to eyesight they once were. The laser has truly been a remarkable vision of science and ophthalmologists continue to explore new possibilities for its use even today.

When a patient with diabetic retinopathy presents with loss of vision, lasers can be very helpful in recovering lost vision and minimizing the progression of disease. Depending on the extent and type of treatment required, an anesthetic shot and multiple treatment sessions may be necessary. The treatment is often done right in the doctor's office, takes no more than 15-20 minutes and you can go home the same day - and if the patient takes good care of their blood sugars and health, it has a very good chance of limiting disease progression

The intellectual quest that led to the realization of Einstein's seminal 1917 thesis in the laser and its subsequent application in the treatment of eye diseases makes for one of the truly remarkable stories of the 20th century and modern medicine . . . but that's a story for another blog.