question on terminology

[scalded]

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I had a question about what Alts are? I'm not in optometry school yet so forgive my ignorance.

The term was used in the opthamology forum in regards to scope of practice increases by optometrists. They were talking about YAGs and Alts. I know what a YAG is but not an Alt.

 

[cpw]

ALT is a laser procedure performed on glaucoma patients. (usually when medically therapy is not working well )

 

[drbizzaro]

I had a question about what Alts are? I'm not in optometry school yet so forgive my ignorance.

The term was used in the opthamology forum in regards to scope of practice increases by optometrists. They were talking about YAGs and Alts. I know what a YAG is but not an Alt.

ALT = alternating laser trabeculoplasty (spelling might be off)

but you do it for patients who might not be compliant with eye drops (especially if they forget drops daily)

 

[Ben Chudner]

ALT = alternating laser trabeculoplasty (spelling might be off)

but you do it for patients who might not be compliant with eye drops (especially if they forget drops daily)

The 'A' actually stands for Argon which is the type of laser used, so it's Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty.

 

[drbizzaro]

The 'A' actually stands for Argon which is the type of laser used, so it's Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty.

ohh yeah... sorry, my bad

 

[aimeeee]

what's a YAG?

 

[drbizzaro]

what's a YAG?

yag is a neodidyium yag laser...a certain type of laser that's used for glaucoma patients

 

[cpw]

yag is a neodidyium yag laser...a certain type of laser that's used for glaucoma patients

not just glaucoma patients... it's also used for peripheral iridotomy and opening posterior capsular opacities on patients after cataract surgery.

 

[Tom_Stickel]

what's a YAG?

Dr. Bizarro,

I think your spelling was a little off. Here's the YAG definition from Wikipedia:

Nd:YAG is an acronym for Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet, a compound that is used as the lasing medium for certain solid-state lasers. Nd:YAG lasers typically emit light with a wavelength of 1064 nm, in the infrared. However, there are also transitions near 940, 1120, 1320, and 1440 nm. Nd:YAG lasers operate in both pulsed and continuous mode.

As far as being anal about spelling, I think we should warn scalded that opHthalmologists can get really angry when you spell their title opthalmologist.

Tom Stickel
Indiana U. 2001