Photorefractive Keratectomy or PRK Surgery Management

PRK Surgery

What is PRK surgery?

Photorefractive Keratectomy, or PRK, is a laser vision correction surgery that is similar to LASIK in many ways. In fact PRK has been in use for many years before the development of LASIK surgery. Patients who are not candidates for LASIK may be candidates for PRK, especially those with corneas that are too thin to undergo LASIK surgery.

PRK and LASIK are both used to treat myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Both procedures use lasers to reshape the cornea, the front surface of the eye, to correct your vision.

PRK is different from LASIK in the way that the treatment zone is accessed by the surgeon. During LASIK a flap is made using a microkeratome or a laser however during PRK the surgeon actually removes a thin outer layer of the cornea altogether. There is an “open” treatment zone with PRK as opposed to a flap made during LASIK that lies back down after the surgery. After the thin layer of cornea has been removed, an excimer laser is used to vaporize the remaining inner layer of the cornea called the stroma. This procedure is equivalent to that used during LASIK. Because there is no flap made during PRK, a bandage contact lens is used in the place of the flap that is used in LASIK surgery.

The recovery period is typically longer and slightly more painful after PRK than it is with LASIK procedures. The healing process requires a longer time because a superficial layer of the cornea has actually been removed during the procedure.

Am I a Good Candidate for PRK?

Determining your candidacy for PRK is similar to that of LASIK. In fact, some patients who do not qualify for LASIK surgery may be good candidates for PRK. During your free laser vision correction examination with us, our Doctors will review your results and determine which refractive surgery is best for you.

What are the differences between LASIK and PRK surgeries?

The major difference between LASIK and PRK is how the treatment zone is accessed during surgery. During LASIK a flap is made however during PRK a thin layer of the cornea is actually removed.

Patients who undergo PRK may experience slightly more pain or irritation after the procedure that can last for up to one week. In contrast, LASIK patients will often only experience mild pain or irritation for one to three days after surgery.

Vision can be variable for up to three months in some cases of patients who have undergone PRK surgery. This is a significantly longer recovery period than that of patients who have had a LASIK procedure. Patients may also experience halos, glare, and difficulty driving at night while their vision continues to recover.

Although the recovery period of PRK is slightly longer than that of LASIK, the end results are just as exceptional. Patients who do not meet candidacy requirements for LASIK procedures may benefit greatly from PRK surgery.