Refractive surgery in the United States.

In a mere 8 years, refractive corneal surgery in the United States has become a commonly practiced procedure. The major procedures being performed today are keratotomy for the correction of myopia and astigmatism and epikeratoplasty for the correction of aphakia. Current, on-going clinical studies involving intrastromal implantation of hydrogel materials have just begun. Clear lens extraction for myopia and intraocular lens implantation in high myopia at the time of cataract surgery are being used more commonly each day. Recognition of and modification of pre-existing corneal astigmatism at the time of cataract surgery has been able to provide patients with much improved visual acuity after surgery.