Laser surgery

[jclw]

I am a dilated cardiomyopathy patient with an ICD. I wanted to know if there is any concern about laser treatments with an ICD, for example laser hair removal ot laser eye surgery. In particular, laser hair removal of the underarm area which would be pretty much on top of the side of the ICD and I am not sure if the laser would have any contradictions with either the ICD or heart condition.

[Professor William McKenna]

Experts in this arena are the specialist cardiologists (electro physiologists) who implant defibrillators, and the manufacturers who ideally should respond to this question. An ICD can be influenced by an electromagnetic field and the specific question to the laser manufacturers would be does your equipment generate such a field? The probability is that the laser does not and would be safe for both laser eye surgery as well as laser hair removal.