Corneal refractive surgery, including LASIK and LASEK, is a commonly performed procedure that is done throughout the world. While both LASIK and LASEK are popular procedures that can significantly improve patient vision, injury to the corneal epithelium is inevitable and entails a risk of vision impairment. A new procedure which can overcome these limitations while still improving myopia could revolutionize corneal refractive surgery. We propose using a femtosecond laser to ablate the midperipheral cornea intrastromally and relax the cornea, a procedure which spares the optical zone and does not affect the corneal epithelium. This induces flattening of the cornea and consequent correction of myopia. Results from preliminary studies on both rabbits and humans have been promising, providing support for this procedure which could have significant clinical utility.