What advantage does the excimer laser offer?
Most of the laser-light generated by the excimer laser is absorbed by the tissue that is removed from the cornea. Unlike some laser procedures, the process does not create a great deal of heat, limiting the possibility of thermal damage to surrounding tissue. These attributes make excimer lasers well-suited to corneal surgery. The excimer is also very precise, with each pulse able to remove 0.25 microns of tissue. A human hair is about 50-100 microns thick.
