The first refractive procedure to use an excimer laser is which of the following?

The first refractive procedure to use an excimer laser is which of the following?

• A. Radical Keratotomy
• B. Photorefractive Keratotomy
• C. LASIK
• D. Photorefractive Keratectomy

Answer: (B)

The first use of the excimer laser in refractive surgery was to reshape the cornea by removing tissue from the surface, a method known as photorefractive keratectomy. This approach uses the laser to ablate tissue and change corneal curvature without making corneal incisions. Radial keratotomy relies on mechanical incisions to flatten the cornea, so it isn’t laser-based. LASIK, while also using the excimer laser, came later and involves creating a corneal flap before reshaping deeper tissue. Therefore, the surface tissue–removal procedure—photorefractive keratectomy—was the initial excimer-laser refractive technique.

The first use of the excimer laser in refractive surgery was to reshape the cornea by removing tissue from the surface, a method known as photorefractive keratectomy. This approach uses the laser to ablate tissue and change corneal curvature without making corneal incisions. Radial keratotomy relies on mechanical incisions to flatten the cornea, so it isn’t laser-based. LASIK, while also using the excimer laser, came later and involves creating a corneal flap before reshaping deeper tissue. Therefore, the surface tissue–removal procedure—photorefractive keratectomy—was the initial excimer-laser refractive technique.