The first refractive procedure to use an excimer laser is which of the following?

Prepare for the Certified Paraoptometric Assistant (CPOA) Exam. Study with extensive flashcards and multiple choice questions with explanations. Enhance your skills and knowledge to succeed.

Multiple Choice

The first refractive procedure to use an excimer laser is which of the following?

Explanation:
The first use of the excimer laser in refractive surgery was to reshape the cornea by removing tissue from the surface, a method known as photorefractive keratectomy. This approach uses the laser to ablate tissue and change corneal curvature without making corneal incisions. Radial keratotomy relies on mechanical incisions to flatten the cornea, so it isn’t laser-based. LASIK, while also using the excimer laser, came later and involves creating a corneal flap before reshaping deeper tissue. Therefore, the surface tissue–removal procedure—photorefractive keratectomy—was the initial excimer-laser refractive technique.

The first use of the excimer laser in refractive surgery was to reshape the cornea by removing tissue from the surface, a method known as photorefractive keratectomy. This approach uses the laser to ablate tissue and change corneal curvature without making corneal incisions. Radial keratotomy relies on mechanical incisions to flatten the cornea, so it isn’t laser-based. LASIK, while also using the excimer laser, came later and involves creating a corneal flap before reshaping deeper tissue. Therefore, the surface tissue–removal procedure—photorefractive keratectomy—was the initial excimer-laser refractive technique.

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