What is PRK Surgery?

    PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is the original type of Lasik Surgery. PRK is performed with a precise laser, which uses an ultraviolet light beam to remove small parts of tissue from the surface of the cornea in order to reshape it. In reshaping the cornea the correct way, it better focuses light into the eye and onto the retina, providing much better vision than before. Nearsighted and farsighted people can both use PRK.

What's the difference between PRK and Lasik?

    LASIK patients have less discomfort and obtain good vision more quickly (with PRK improvement is gradual and over a few days or even months), but many surgeons prefer PRK for patients with larger pupils or thin corneas.

Procedure

    Before surgery there are several rules the patient must follow to guarantee success. Patients wearing contact lenses are instructed to stop wearing them 4 to 19 days before surgery. During a pre-surgery appointment the surgeon will examine the eye with a pachymeter to determine their thickness, and with a topographer to measure the counter of the eye surface. The operation is performed with the patient awake and mobile; however, the patient is sometimes given a mild sedative and anesthetic eye drops. The procedure itself is performed in three steps. The first step is to create a flap of corneal tissue. The second step is remodeling of the cornea underneath the flap with the laser. Finally, the flap is repositioned. The surgeon then creates a thin flap on the eye, folding it to enable remodeling of the tissue beneath with a laser. The flap is repositioned and the eye is left to heal in the postoperative period.

    Post-surgery patients are usually given antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops. These are continued in the weeks following surgery. Patients are usually told to sleep more and are also given a dark pair of sunglasses to protect their eyes from bright lights and protective goggles to prevent rubbing of the eyes when asleep and to reduce dry eyes. They also are required to moisturize the eyes with preservative-free tears and follow directions for prescription drops. It is also normally requested that the patients do not drive, and they find other arrangements to go home.