[Refractive surgery: most commonly used techniques, results and complications]

Refractive surgery is gaining enormous popularity. It is estimated that in 2001, refractive surgery was performed on 1 in 8000 persons in the Netherlands. Photorefractive keratectomy and laser in-situ keratomileusis are effective and predictable for the correction of myopia up to 10.0 D and hypermetropia up to +4.5 D. There is rarely any significant loss of best-corrected visual acuity postoperatively. For the correction of higher levels of myopia and hypermetropia, phakic intraocular lenses can be implanted in the anterior or posterior eye chamber, in other words in front of the natural lens. The magnification effect of these lenses often results in improved vision at higher levels of myopia. Good preoperative selection of refractive surgery candidates is essential and patients should be properly informed about the results, potential complications and adverse effects of refractive surgery techniques.