Laser ablation is an alternative to surgery with a scalpel. The process of laser ablation is used to vaporize tissue with laser light rather than cutting the tissue away with a scalpel.

Laser eye surgery, no. Surgery using a laser instead of a scalpel, impossible to know, the only person/people who would know that is the surgeons.

Most common is as a cutting tool, replacing the scalpel.

Also for precise distance measurements.

None. A laser will control bleeding as it cuts, but that is no different from the cautery unit used in every OR. The cutting lasers are not more precise or selective than a scalpel or a skilled surgeon at the helm of Metzenbaum scissors. Now, non-cutting lasers are a different deal--can be very selective, but are not a scalpel.

It can take the place of the scalpel, is easily controlled by computers and also cauterizes as it cuts.