Phototherapeutic keratectomy: long-term results in 166 eyes.

One hundred sixty-six eyes with corneal disease were treated with the excimer laser in order to ablate opacities, irregularities, or to improve wound healing. Postoperative follow up time was 15 months (range 6 to 28 months). An individual goal was set for each patient and 84% achieved the goal. The visual acuity change is given for each subgroup. Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) was shown to be an advantageous surgical method, where the success is in the careful preoperative evaluation. One problem with the technique is the induced hyperopia.