Seventy-six patients with recurrent corneal erosions resistant to conventional therapy with ointment, abrasion or contact lenses were treated with the excimer laser. The patients were treated in 3 different ways; ablation of 3 or 5 microns after epithelial removal, or ablation of 20 microns directly on the epithelium. Twenty out of the 76 treated eyes showed recurrences. Thirty-five of the patients had no symptoms after treatment and 21 patients had minor symptoms. The 3 different treatment modes were equally successful in the present study.