Laser Complications

Overview

4.8 out of 5 (44 Reviews)

Credits

1.50

Post-Assessment Questions

8

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

6 Mar 2026

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

90 Minutes


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Activity Description

Lasers produce light that is collimated, coherent, and monochromatic, allowing precise delivery of energy to targeted tissues. Applications of laser devices in healthcare settings include vascular coagulation, pigment ablation, skin resurfacing, tissue ablation, and hair removal, each requiring a range of wavelengths and delivery systems. Each wavelength of laser light is preferentially absorbed by a specific molecular target, leading to variation in the potential complications associated with different laser systems. Complications may occur when laser energy is misdirected or delivered at excessive levels, resulting in unintended thermal injury to surrounding tissues during selective photothermolysis. Potential adverse effects include retinal injury, corneal injury, skin burns, dyspigmentation, and posttreatment infection.

Modern laser systems help reduce risk by delivering energy in short pulses, allowing tissue cooling between exposures. Most of these complications are preventable when patients and healthcare personnel adhere to established safety protocols, conservative energy settings, and appropriate eye protection. Although prevention of many complications is straightforward, optimizing treatment outcomes requires clinical experience, careful patient selection, and precise management of laser device settings. This activity reviews the spectrum of complications associated with laser procedures, including prevention, recognition, and management strategies, to help clinicians provide optimal patient care should adverse events occur during or after treatment with laser devices. The activity also highlights the importance of appropriate training, adherence to safety protocols, and collaboration among healthcare team members to promote patient safety and improve treatment outcomes.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Identify clinical signs and symptoms of laser-induced complications to enable early recognition and appropriate intervention.

  • Select appropriate laser devices, treatment parameters, and cooling methods to reduce the risk of adverse events.

  • Implement evidence-based safety protocols, including proper eye protection and perioperative precautions, during laser procedures.

  • Collaborate with the interprofessional healthcare team to monitor patients, provide appropriate follow-up care, and manage complications following laser therapy.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Physicians and Physician Associates: StatPearls, LLC designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians and PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn their required annual part II self-assessment credit in the American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery’s Continuing Certification program (formerly known as MOC). It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of recognizing participation.

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment Examination requirements of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery’s (ABOS) Maintenance of Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABOS credit.

American Board of Pathology: Successful completion of this Continuing Certification activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.50 Lifelong Learning (CME) credits in the American Board of Pathology’s Continuing Certification Program.

American Board of Surgery: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment requirement(s) of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

American Board of Thoracic Surgery: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME, Self-Assessment, and Patient Safety in Practice requirements of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery’s Maintenance of Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABTS credit.

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada: Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the FDA. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

Terry W. on 9/13/2021

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Excellent topic

Antonio R. on 4/22/2026

Eric B. on 5/6/2026

Katrina M. on 5/9/2026

Kaycee L. on 5/15/2026

Unlimited Physician CME

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6344 CME activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 7563 hours of CME.

Learn About Lifetime CME

Single Activity

Take this single activity

$73.50 1 activity

6 Month Unlimited Physician CME

Access to all the Unlimited Physician CME activities in all specialties.

$399 per half year per user

1 Year Unlimited Physician CME

Access to all the Unlimited Physician CME activities in all specialties.

$649 per 1 year per user