Stephen Wexler, MD, discusses evolving refractive surgery trends and emerging laser technologies
The landscape of corneal refractive surgery continues to evolve rapidly in 2025, driven by advancements in laser technology, expanded treatment options, and shifting procedure volumes. In a recent presentation, Stephen Wexler, MD, refractive surgeon with the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, reviews key trends, emerging technologies and recent regulatory approvals shaping the field.
From newly cleared excimer platforms to next-generation treatment planning tools, this year has seen significant innovation that may broaden candidacy and enhance visual outcomes for patients seeking freedom from glasses and contact lenses. Industry leaders are calling 2025 a “year of innovation” in refractive surgery, citing the arrival of ray-tracing-guided LASIK planning, advanced excimer systems, and expanded alternatives such as modern implantable lens technologies.
About WashU Medicine
WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.