Summary points

• Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy is the latest in a long line of surgical treatments for myopia (short sightedness)

• Around 50 centres (including three research centres) in the United Kingdom offer this treatment and tens of thousands of patients have been treated worldwide

• Considerable individual variation in corneal wound healing exists following photorefractive keratectomy, and this limits the predictability of the procedure

• Predictability of refractive outcome is much better for lower amounts of myopia (up to around - 6.00 dioptres)

• Important side effects exist which are all more common in people with higher myopia (regression, corneal haze, loss of best corrected visual acuity)

• Overall patient satisfaction is high and around 85% of patients are pleased with the outcome even if this is a partial correction only

• Careful patient selection and counselling are vitally important, and all patients must be fully informed of possible side effects