The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated with excimer laser irradiation is recognized as a possible cause of corneal haze following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Our work was aimed at investigating in vitro the oxidative effects induced by subablative laser fluences and at demonstrating the protective effectiveness of pirenoxine. Comparative trials of subablative fluence on rabbit eyes with or without 10(-5) M pirenoxine were carried out. Superoxide anion (O(2)(-)), conjugated diene (CD), and thiobarbituric acid reagent substance (TBARS) formation were analyzed. Cellular death was evaluated by flow cytometry. Histological examinations were also performed. No appraisable differences in O(2)(-),CD,andTBARS formation were detected soon after irradiation, whereas they all increased following incubation. Pirenoxine inhibited such increases. Cytofluorimetric and histological observations gave coherent results. The experimental data indicate that oxidative and toxic effects are ascribable to ROS avalanches triggered by laser irradiation-induced photodissociation and are inhibited by pirenoxine.