Carbon-dioxide laser treatment of eye lid lesions.

A commercially available carbon-dioxide laser has been used in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma, capillary haemangioma, papilloma and various other neoplastic lesions involving the lids and paraocular skin. Altogether 20 patients have been treated in the past two years. The results have been very encouraging. All lesions have healed without scarring, and to date there have been no recurrences. The advantage of CO2 laser irradiation is coagulation of blood and lymphatic channels in the treatment area, which prevents bleeding and limits dissemination of tumour cells. Also discussed is the mechanism of CO2 laser and the possibilities for the future.