Development’s history of laser technologies in the correction of ametropia: from ideas to technologies

he history of the development of laser technologies goes back about 100 years. It took researchers more than half a century to practically use laser systems in medicine. Despite the well-known fact about the creation of the first laser based on a solid-state radiation source – Meiman ruby, today, in order to perform sublamellar keratomileusis, the vast majority of refractive surgeons use gas excimer lasers to reshape the cornea. Modern installations of this type are high-tech devices, but have a number of disadvantages. In this regard, the search and improvement of alternative sources of UV radiation generation continues in parallel, these include solid-state laser systems. To track trends in the technological development of laser keratorefractive surgery, an analysis of the literature devoted to the history of the stages of development of modern ablative laser systems was carried out. A search and technical comparison of solid-state laser systems available for use in clinical practice was also carried out, identifying their advantages and disadvantages compared to excimer laser systems. Key words: keratorefractive surgery, solid-state laser, excimer laser, history of development, laser vision correction, ablation, UV radiation