Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a laser eye surgery aimed to correct mild myopia and astigmatism. Unlike LASIK, no corneal flap is created before the laser beam is applied to reshape the corneal tissue. Although PRK eye surgery is an earlier discovered laser procedure, some surgeons still prefer it in a small number of cases, as it avoids further flap complications. This type of procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure by a refractive surgeon.

Before PRK Eye Surgery

Before a PRK eye surgery you will undergo several eye examinations. Your eye doctor will examine your eye condition thoroughly and check your eye history to see if the prescription has been stable for minimum one year. After this eye exam, the doctor will be able to determine whether you should undergo a PRK eye surgery or not.

The eye exam usually includes:
l Refractive error measurement
l Dilation exam
l Corneal thickness and pupil measurements
l Tear function analysis
l Corneal topography map
l Discussion of lifestyle, medical history and expected outcome

Soft contact lenses should not be used for one week before the eye exam and gas permeable or hard lenses should not be used for 2-3 weeks before the exam to ensure the refractive error is measured correctly.

The PRK Eye Surgery Procedure

Before the surgical procedure, the eye is anesthetized with eye drops. Afterwards the surgeon will use a laser to remove the outer corneal layer and reshape the underneath tissue. The actual PRK eye surgery takes less than 15 minutes, but with all the preoperative preparation, it can take up to one hour. Although both eyes can be treated simultaneously, many surgeons prefer to treat each one separately.

After PRK Eye Surgery

Unlike LASIK surgery, when you have to wear a special protective shield over the eyes for a short time after the procedure, after PRK eye surgery you are required to wear an eye patch and special contacts. In addition, your ophthalmologist will give you some anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops to use for a period of time following surgery.

The healing time for PRK eye surgery is usually longer than with newer laser techniques, such as LASIK. Most patients notice an improvement in vision after 1-2 weeks.

PRK Eye Surgery Risks

PRK eye surgery involves a few possible complications, as does any surgery. Here are some of the risks associated with this procedure
- Unexpected reaction to anesthesia
- Infection
- Under or over correction
- Halos or glared vision
- Light sensitivity
- Corneal haze
- Decreased best corrected vision (not being able to see with so much clarity as before surgery)
- Patients who are older than 40 and suffer from presbyopia usually still need to wear reading glasses.

A thorough discussion with your ophthalmologist will help determine whether you are a good candidate for a PRK eye surgery, ensure you have realistic expectations about the outcome of the procedure and understand the risks associated with it.