PRK
PRK, or Photo-Refractive Keratectomy, treats refractive errors by removing tissue from the surface of the cornea. PRK is another method of surgically reshaping your cornea using the excimer laser. It was the first procedure to use the excimer laser to treat many types of refractive errors and is still the procedure of choice for certain patients. With PRK, the very top layer of the cornea (epithelium) is removed, the excimer laser is used to reshape the surface of the cornea and the epithelium is then allowed to grow back in naturally. This procedure is most often used to treat low to moderate amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

PRK utilizes the same types of lasers as LASIK and achieves the same visual results. However, rather than creating a corneal flap, the skin of the eye is gently brushed prior to applying the laser. PRK has the advantage of not requiring the use of a microkeratome and not changing the strength of the cornea. Thus, it is the favored procedure in certain conditions where the cornea may be naturally weaker. It is also the recommended procedure of certain governmental and law enforcement agencies. For individuals that engage in activity where eye trauma is prevalent PRK may be the procedure of choice.

With either LASIK or PRK the surgeon maintains control throughout the procedure. First, the eye is numbed using eye drop "anesthesia." Then, the physician removes a thin, protective layer of tissue that covers the cornea, called the epithelium. During the procedure, the physician will instruct the patient to look directly at the laser's fixation light. Then, a small amount of tissue will be removed from the surface of the cornea. The amount of cornea removed depends on the amount of correction needed. The surgery takes fewer than 5 minutes and is virtually painless. Following the procedure, a special contact lens may be applied and is worn for 3-4 days or until the epithelium heals.

Because the epithelium was removed and is healing, patients usually feel some discomfort and experience blurry vision for up to seven days after the procedure. Eye drops and other medications are prescribed to ease discomfort. It can take a several days to a few months for patients to fully reach their optimal outcome from surgery.

Although most information that applies to LASIK also applies to PRK, there are some differences. With PRK, there are more post-operative visits and more post-operative eye drop usage. With PRK the visual recovery takes longer, and more often than in LASIK, only one eye is operated on at a time. We ask that prospective PRK patients refer to the specific PRK consent forms for more detailed information. They are also encouraged to inquire about details of PRK with Dr. Kelly.

The major benefit of PRK is that the integrity and strength of the corneal dome is retained. The precision and accuracy of the excimer laser has made PRK successful in the treatment of myopia. PRK is not recommended for everyone, but most patients are eligible for the procedure.

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