By Phil Galewitz, Special for USA TODAY

"They can reshape the cornea to give patients 20/20 vision. They can smooth out wrinkles. They can reduce neck and back pain. They can even remove birthmarks.
And that's just the beginning."

"A potential pain fighter

Newer "cool" lasers are showing promise as the latest weapon to fight chronic pain. In 2001, the FDA approved the Erchonia laser for chronic pain. It works by stimulating the body's cells to regenerate, according to the manufacturer's studies.

"The results have been remarkable," says Mitchell Prywes, a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor in Danbury, Conn. He uses the laser on patients who have neck and back pain. Patients come in for five- to 10-minute applications that often complement physical therapy.

"We can often see results in minutes where we see the patient's range of motion improve and it improves pain," Prywes says. The laser reduces chronic neck and back pain because it reduces inflammation and activates cells to improve the natural healing process, he says.

"The laser is very much the future of medicine," Prywes says.

He adds that while the lasers are extremely safe, precautions must be taken to keep laser light away from the eyes, those with pacemakers and pregnant women.

"It is not a panacea for everything, but it can have a dramatic effect in speeding healing," says Charlie Shanks, a vice president of laser manufacturer Erchonia Inc. of Dallas.

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