2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
13 Refractive Surgery
Chapter 5: Photoablation: Techniques and Outcomes
Surgical Technique for Photoablation
Many of the steps in keratorefractive surgery are identical for surface ablation and LASIK. These include calibration and programming of the laser and patient preparation. The major difference between surface ablation and LASIK is preparation for ablation, which is by exposure of the Bowman layer for surface ablation and the midstroma for LASIK. A list of FDA-approved lasers for refractive surgery can be found on the FDA website.
Calibration of the Excimer Laser
At the start of each surgery day and between patients, the technician should check the laser for proper homogeneous beam profile, alignment, and power output, according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Ultimately, however, it is the surgeon’s responsibility to ensure that the laser is functioning correctly before treating each patient.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 13 - Refractive Surgery. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.