It's not uncommon to question how laser treatment for floaters really works, and if it really works. So we'll discuss some of the technical details of vitreolysis with you. The YAG laser emits a cone-shaped beam of light that passes through a special microscope. The laser energy concentrates at the tip of the cone, which is directed to the surface of the floater. Energy comes in ultra-short "shots" that last only a fraction of a second. Upon contact, the laser beam creates a plasma state. This fourth state of matter pulls electrons out of their normal location and creates a sort of "bubble." The gas bubble then gets absorbed into the bloodstream. Because physical matter is converted to gas, there should be few if any smaller clumps left behind.