Making sense of refractive surgery in 2001: Why, when, for whom, and by whom?

Surgical alteration of the focusing or refractive properties of the eye has been performed on millions of patients. An array of procedures to correct myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia have been introduced over th e past 25 years with varying degrees of success. Improved technology has in creased patient and physician satisfaction and enthusiasm. Currently availa ble surgical procedures can be categorized as incisional, surface-altering, lamellar, and intraocular. The choice of procedure depends on individual p atient indications and contraindications based on results of ocular examina tions, eg, corneal pachymetry to measure corneal thickness, keratometry to measure the corneal curvature, basal tear secretory rate, and dark-adapted pupil size. The postoperative uncorrected visual acuity depends, in large p art, on the quality of the preoperative evaluation and refraction. Before s cheduling a patient for surgery, the ophthalmologist must ensure that the p atient understands the potential risks of the procedure and has realistic e xpectations for the postoperative level and quality of uncorrected visual a cuity. Postoperative complications include corneal flap displacement, under correction and overcorrection, and epithelial ingrowth under the corneal fl ap and inflammatory keratitis. Postoperative dry eye, infection, and inflam mation are usually treated medically. Ongoing technological innovations to customize the surgical approach to an individual patient's eye continue to improve outcomes.