Photorefractive and phototherapeutic procedures.

The excimer laser will have a tremendous impact on the future of eye care. This article covers the basic concepts of photorefractive and phototherapeutic keratectomy. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative techniques are reviewed. Common postoperative complications are discussed. This article also reviews clinical data and future trends in excimer technology. A comparison of photorefractive keratectomy with radial keratotomy is also provided.