To evaluate the 12 months refractive results of photorefractive excimer keratectomy (PRK) in high number of eyes with different type of refractive error. Between October 1992 and December 1996. 2053 eyes of 1098 patients were treated with the Aesculap Meditec MEL 60 argon-fluoride excimer laser. Refractive results were concluded at the 12th post-PRK month. The following patient groups were used during the study: Group 1.: Eyes between -1.0 D and -6.0 D (n = 651); Group 2.: -6.0 és -9.0 D (n = 216); Group 3.: Eyes with refractive error above -9.0 D (n = 163); Group 4.: Hypermetrop eyes (n = 160); Group 5.: Eyes with myopic astigmatism (n = 746); Group 6.: Eyes with hypermetropic astigmatism; Group 7.: Pure astigmatism (n = 13). In Group 1. The preoperative average -3.94 +/- 1.3 D refractive error decreased during the 1-year follow-up period to -0.47 +/- 0.54 Dpt; in Group 2. The preoperative -7.65 +/- 1.07 D to -1.16 +/- 1.86 D; in Group 3. The preoperative average -13.58 +/- 3.51 D to -3.11 +/- 2.75 D; in Group 4. The preoperative +4.04 +/- 1.77 D to +1.02 +/- 1.16 D in Group 5. The preoperative -6.06 +/- 2.78 D spherical component decreased to -0.95 +/- 1.33 D-ra, whereas the preoperative cylindrical component from -1.5 +/- 1.08 D to -0.13 +/- 0.58 D; in Group 5. The preoperative +4.57 +/- 1.78 spherical component to +1.13 +/- 1.38 D; whereas the preoperative cylindrical component from +1.57 +/- 0.96 D to +0.38 +/- 0.77 D; in Group 7. The preoperative a -3.98 +/- 1.2 D cylinder decreased to -0.62 +/- 0.75 D cylinder. PRK decreased effectively the preoperative correction need in every treatment group. The results are the better, the smaller the preoperative correction need is.