Purpose of review: This article reviews the literature on pediatric refractive surgery from 1995 to 2003 and discusses the practical issues surrounding the application of modern refractive surgery to children.
Recent findings: Preliminary data show that refractive surgery can be successfully performed in children and that the short term complication rate seems to be similar to that reported in adults.
Summary: Refractive surgery may hold promise for cases in which traditional treatment methods have failed. Additional study is needed to define the role of refractive surgery in children and in the treatment of amblyopia and strabismus.