How Does PRK Work?
 PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) was first performed in 1987 in Germany. It is a laser surgical procedure effective in treating low to moderate degrees of nearsightedness and astigmatism.
PRK is technically simple to perform because there is no corneal flap created. The surgeon simply wipes away a portion of the cornea's surface cells (epithelium), and uses the excimer laser to vaporize away microscopic amounts of corneal tissue. By modifying the shape of the cornea, light rays are allowed to focus correctly on the retina to provide clear vision.
The Surgery Experience
Every Nationwide Vision patient undergoes a comprehensive series of eye tests and examinations and has a consultation. During the consultation the patient and surgeon discuss and plan the surgery that best suits the individual patient. On the day of the surgery, the patient is brought to the laser surgery suite and positioned upon a comfortable chair that reclines. Topical anesthetic drops are given to "numb" the eye for painless correction. Prior to the laser portion of the procedure, the central portion of the surface epithelium is removed. The surface epithelium regenerates within a few days of the surgery. The portion of the cornea below the epithelium is called stroma. The corneal stroma does not regenerate after being removed, allowing for precise correction of your refractive error. During the PRK procedure, the surgeon uses the excimer laser to remove microscopic amounts of corneal stroma.
This
results in a permanent change in the shape of the
cornea (which causes the desired correction of
your glasses prescription). After the surgery is
completed, a soft contact lens is placed on the
eye to aid in healing and comfort. It is left in
place for three to four days until the surface
epithelium is healed.
What Should I Expect After Surgery?
It usually takes about one week to achieve crisp and clear vision after PRK. Although people can see after the surgery, the vision is not clear until healing is complete in about one week. The reason for the blurry vision is because the surface epithelium needs to smooth back as it heals.
Most people experience temporary effects associated with the initial healing. Increased light sensitivity, glare, halos, dry eyes, and decreased clarity in dim illumination are common. Most of these temporary side effects resolve within four to six weeks after PRK. Complete visual stabilization generally takes one to four months. Other rare, but possible complications are discussed with all of our patients during their refractive assessment appointment.
Discomfort is more common with PRK than LASIK. People generally have mild to moderate discomfort for one to two days after PRK, which is usually relieved by over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol. A minority of patients experience significant discomfort, requiring prescription pain relief provided by your surgeon. This increased discomfort will resolve when the epithelium (which was wiped away at surgery) heals. This usually takes 3 to 4 days.
Eye drops required after surgery, but not included in the cost, may include antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing drops. Steroid drops are occasionally needed for prolonged periods to optimize the surgical result.
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