Therapeutic Excimer Laser Surgery - A Review of Current Indications

Corneal refractive procedures are considered safe and effective for correcting mild-to-moderate refractive errors. Due to the precision and popularity of excimer lasers, they have also been employed to treat other medical conditions. The present study aimed to discuss the utility of excimer laser surgery for managing medical conditions aside from natural refractive errors based on the currently available literature. PubMed and Scopus were the main resources used to search the literature as of Aug 20, 2025. The following keywords were used in various combinations: refractive surgery, laser in situ keratomileusis, laser subepithelial keratomileusis, photorefractive keratectomy, phototherapeutic keratectomy, excimer laser, indications, recurrent corneal erosion syndrome, corneal dystrophy, corneal scar, corneal scarring, keratoconus, ametropia. Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) allows for immediate resolution of recurrent corneal erosion syndrome. However, a fifth of patients might have long-term recurrences or require lubricating eye drops. In corneal dystrophies, PTK has been used to treat erosions and opacifications. Photorefractive keratectomy might be combined with cross-linking to enhance visual outcomes in patients with keratoconus. Other indications include corneal scarring, complications associated with corneal refractive surgery, and ametropia or corneal aberrations following ocular surgeries. With the increasing availability of lasers and growing evidence, this wide range of conditions treated by excimer lasers might continue to grow.