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PRK - Photorefractive Keratectomy - Eye Surgery

What Is PRK?

PRK is known as the Original Laser Eye Surgery. Before there was LASIK there was a procedure known as PRK or Photorefractive Keratectomy. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and while LASIK patients generally recover faster than PRK patients; who can take as long as a few months to recover, many surgeons still prefer using PRK to treat patients with thin corneas or larger pupils.

PRK was developed in the 1980’s. While the first FDA approved laser for PRK was in 1995, the procedure was practiced for years in other countries.
LASIK
LASEK / E-LASIK
Epi-LASIK
Wavefront LASIK
Presby LASIK
IntraLase
PRK Laser Surgery
Corneal Inlays / Onlays
Refractive Surgery
Small pieces of tissue are removed from the cornea by a cool ultraviolet light from an excimer laser. The laser is very precise in its reshaping which is how vision is restored; by reshaping the cornea to properly focus light into the eye and onto the retina, resulting in better vision.

PRK can correct vision for both nearsighted and farsighted people. Nearsightedness is corrected by flattening the steepness in the cornea whereas farsightedness requires the steeper cornea. PRK can also address astigmatism simply by smoothing our the oblong shape of the cornea into a normal one.

Before Surgery

An examination of your eye needs to take place to understand how much of the corneal tissue needs to be removed. A corneal topographer photographs your eye and maps out the surface of your cornea. Since not all corneas are the same and none are perfectly shaped, the surface irregularities, steepness and flatness of the cornea must be investigated by the surgeon.

Medical conditions will also be addressed at this time. There are conditions that may make you ineligible for PRK and some conditions that may require special care and restrictions.

During Surgery

PRK is a relatively simple procedure; in fact, the actual surgery itself can be less than a minute, and you're awake the entire time.

In most cases people don't feel pain during PRK. The doctor will apply eye drops that numb your eyes and then have you lie down and position the laser over an eye – each eye is done separately. An instrument is then placed over your eye to keep your eyelids open and a mild suction is applied to make sure your eye remains in place.

Your prescription is handled by a computer which adjusts the laser. The doctor will ask you to look at a light while the doctor sends pulses of light to start the surgery. The process is painless but it is very important that you keep your eyes focused on the light in order for the laser to stay precise.

The laser makes a clicking or crackling sound when the pulses fire and many people report a burning smell – all of which is normal. Keep in mind that the higher the degree of the correction; larger prescription, the longer the surgery takes.

Medication may be prescribed afterwards, but in most cases people patients feel no pain or discomfort other than a slight burning or itchiness.

After PRK

The doctor’s orders after surgery are very important to your well being and healing process. If there are complications you must immediately contact your doctor.

When the procedure is done you should rest for a few hours. The doctor will allow you to rest a bit immediately following the procedure but you must have someone else drive you home.

Although you will be able to go to work the next day, most doctors will suggest a few days of rest and refraining from any strenuous physical activities as this can aggravate the healing process.

At all costs avoid rubbing the eye. Your doctor will most likely provide you with special medical drops, eye guards and other materials to help with the recovery like a special contact lens and antibiotic eye drops.

Although most people achieve 20/20 or better vision, many also only achieve 20/40. However, people with initially poor eyesight achieving 20/40 is a lot better than their previous vision and there are some that still need to wear contacts or glasses following the procedure but at a much lower prescription.

Possible post operative complications include glares, halos or starbursts around lights at night. This is a common condition and side effect as a result of PRK or any refractive surgery.

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