Table 1.

Summary of studies included in the review

Author(s)	Study type	N of subjects (Nails) (Fingernails)*	Laser	Diagnostic criteria	Max. follow up period	Study endpoint
Carney et al. [26]	Case Series	10 (18)	1064 nm Nd:YAG (short Pulse). 1 treatment.	Culture	24 weeks	Decrease in area of nail visually affected measured with the Onychomycosis Severity Index (OSI) and negative cultures.
Hees et al. [37]	Comparative study	10 (20)	1064 nm (long v. short pulse) on each hallux 2 treatments over 4 weeks (side by side comparison).	Histology	36 weeks	Decrease in area of nail visually affected measured with the Onychomycosis Severity Index (OSI). Negative histology & cultures.
Hochman [28]	Case Series	8 (12) (1)*	1064 nm (short pulse). 2 or 3 treatments, 3 weeks apart.	Culture or PAS	24 weeks	Negative fungal cultures.
Hollmig et al. [29]	RCT	27 (125)	1064 Nd:YAG. 2 Treatments 2 weeks apart versus control.	Culture or PAS	52 weeks	Negative cultures and measured clearance at 3 months for all subjects, and repeated clearance measurement at 12 months for those treated with laser.
Kalokasidis et al. [30]	Case Series	131 (unknown)	1064 nm/532 Q switched Nd:YAG. 2 treatments, 30 days apart.	Microscopy & Culture	12 weeks	Decrease in area of nail visually affected measured with the Onychomycosis Severity Index (OSI) and negative cultures.
Kimura et al. [31]	Case Series	13 (37)	Nd:YAG 1064 nm (long Pulse) 2–3 treatments, 4 weeks apart.	Microscopy	Up to 24 weeks	Improvements in nail turbidity score and, negative culture if nail was 100% improved in turbidity score.
Landsman et al. [25]	RCT	36 (37)	870 nm/930 nm laser or sham control device. 4 treatments over 60 days.	Culture or PAS	24 weeks	Decrease in affected nail area (clearance) and negative culture or PAS stain.
Lim et al. [32]	Case Series	24 (unknown)	CO2 laser. 3 treatments at 4 weeks plus topical treatment.	Microscopy	24 weeks	Decrease in affected nail surface area and negative microscopy.
Moon et al. [33]	Case Series	13 (43) (12)*	1064 nm Nd:YAG (long pulse). 5 treatments at 4 week intervals.	Microscopy & Culture	24 weeks	Decrease in affected nail surface area and negative microscopy.
Noguichi et al. [34]	Case Series	12 (12)	1064 nm Nd:YAG (long Pulse) 3 treatments at 4 week intervals.	Microscopy or PCR or culture	24 weeks	Decrease in nail surface area affected and negative microscopy.
Waibel et al. [35]	Comparative study	21 (21)	1064 nm ND:YAG v. 1319 nm v. Broadband light. 4 treatments at one week apart.	Culture & PAS	24 weeks	Negative fungal culture.
Zhang et al. [36]	Comparative study	33 (154) (18)*	1064 nm Nd:YAG (long pulse) Either 4 OR 8 treatments - one week apart.	Microscopy & Culture	24 weeks	Negative culture and measured decrease in affected nail surface area.