Vision Correction

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)

Photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK, is a type of laser eye surgery used to correct mild to moderate nearsightedness farsightedness and/or astigmatism.

Am I a candidate for PRK?

Anyone over the age of 18 year who has healthy corneas and stable vision, with myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism is a candidate for PRK.  People with certain medical conditions or expectant mothers may not be good candidates. 

How do I prepare for this procedure?

Before your surgery your medical history will be evaluated as well as have your eyes tested. Tests will likely include measuring corneal thickness, refraction, and pupil dilation. If you wear rigid gas permeable contact lenses, you should not wear them starting three weeks before your evaluation. Other contact lenses shouldn't be worn for at least one week prior to evaluation. On the day of your surgery, eat a light meal, take all of your prescribed medications and do not wear eye makeup.

What can I expect during this procedure?

This procedure is done under local anesthesia and takes a maximum of about 10 minutes to do both eyes. During PRK, your eye doctor uses a laser to reshape the cornea. This laser, which delivers a cool pulsing beam of ultraviolet light, is used on the surface of the cornea.

What should I expect after surgery?

Most of the time, a bandage contact lens will be applied immediately after the procedure. This contact lens is usually worn for the first 3 to 4 days to allow the surface of the eye to heal. You should expect to visit you're your eye doctor at least a few times during the first 6 months after surgery, with the first visit being the day after surgery. Once the surface of the eye is healed, the bandage contact lens is removed. Your vision may fluctuate between clear and blurry for the first few weeks following surgery and you may need to wear glasses for night driving or reading until your vision stabilizes. Your eyes will be dry. Your eye doctor will give you prescription eye drops to prevent infection and keep your eyes moist. These drops may cause a slight burn or momentary blurring of your vision upon using them. Your vision will gradually improve, allowing you to drive a car within four to seven days following surgery.

How is PRK different from LASIK?

Your eye doctor may recommend some patients to undergo PRK instead of LASIK because it may be a more appropriate procedure in some types of eyes. With PRK, good vision does not return as quickly as it does with LASIK and patients experience slightly more discomfort while healing. The final result of LASIK and PRK are proven to be identical 6 months post operatively.

Will I still need reading glasses to correct presbyopia after I have had PRK?

PRK is not used to correct presbyopia. Presbyopia happens in all patients over 40 and can be corrected with reading glasses or leaving one eye to focus at near with the other to focus at distance, a condition known as monovision.  This technique can be evaluated prior to surgery by the use of one contact lens for one eye at distance and for the other eye at near.  Another technique for improving both distance and near vision is Clear Lens Exchange using the new multifocal lenses.  Ask us if you are interested in seeing at distance and near without reading glasses to know more about this technique.