Advantages of Surface Ablation in Excimer Laser Surgery

In this article, we review the advantages of corneal laser surface surgery to explain the current trend toward this technique. The excimer laser in corneal surface surgery can be used for two reasons. On the one hand, to correct a refractive error by photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and its two variants; Laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and Epithelial Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (Epi-lasik). On the other hand, it is used to perform superficial corneal capacities photoablation, among other uses, by Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). PRK is regaining popularity thanks to its better safety profile, mitomycin C usage and improvement of photoablation profiles. Lasek and Epilasik are less frequently performed nowadays. PTK is an important element in the techniques used to improve visual acuity in a wide range of corneal conditions such as corneal scars, recurrent erosion syndrome and corneal dystrophies.