Excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy.

The argon-fluoride 193 nm excimer laser is currently under investigation in the United States for both refractive and therapeutic indications. We report the preliminary results of phototherapeutic keratectomy in 15 patients. Patients were divided as follows: group 1 (11 patients with anterior corneal pathology) and group 2 (four patients with refractive error after ocular surgery). Mean follow-up was 4.7 and 4.0 months in the two groups, respectively. Although results in group 1 are difficult to quantify because of varied indications, visual acuity improved in six of 11 patients (55%) and remained the same in five patients (45%). In group 2 uncorrected visual acuity improved in two patients (50%) and remained the same in two patients. Best corrected vision was the same or better in three patients but decreased four lines in one patient at 1-month follow-up, possibly related to retinal pathology. Overall, the results of excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy are quite promising, especially in light of alternative treatments that are more invasive.