This review of the recent developments in the phase Doppler method provides information on the advances made to the method and delineates some potential error sources. Methods used to eliminate these potential error sources are also discussed. It is shown through comparison to the Lorenz-Mie theory and the GLMT that the geometrical optics theory offers a reliable and efficient computational tool for the analysis of the light scattering with the phase Doppler method. The geometrical optics theory was then used to optimize the measurement parameters in the system designs and a significant reduction in the measurement uncertainty was realized. Limitations on the particle concentrations in which the instrument will operate reliably are also addressed. A brief discussion of the instrumentation and, in particular, the signal processing is presented. The advantages in using the Fourier transform approach are discussed. As a demonstration of the capabilities of the instrument, several performance tests were reviewed and examples of the application to spray combustion and turbulent dispersion of particles are given.