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PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)

Correction for Astigmatism, Myopia, and Hyperopia. Abrams Eye Institute Can Help.

PRK Corrects Astigmatism, Nearsightedness, and Farsightedness

PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, is a procedure similar to LASIK we perform in our Las Vegas offices. For those seeking options besides LASIK, PRK is often considered a procedure that’s better than LASIK for certain patients.

Both Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) and Laser-assisted in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) are dominant refractive procedures for correcting mild to moderate astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness. These procedures are performed with an excimer laser beam.

During any refractive surgery, your ophthalmologist reshapes the cornea, the front part of your eye, to make the light travel properly onto the retina at the back of your eye. While several different refractive surgery options can be used to reshape your cornea, during the PRK procedure, the eye surgeon will use an excimer laser to achieve the proper type of cornea reshaping or corneal sculpting. The PRK laser delivers a pulsing beam of cool ultraviolet light on the surface of your cornea after epithelium removal. This differs from LASIK, where the laser reshapes underneath your cornea.

This corneal refractive surgery is highly effective for correcting many nearsightedness cases and improving vision. After the surgery, approximately 80 percent of patients will receive 20/20 vision without using contacts or glasses, and 95 to 98 percent will have 20/40 vision or better.

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Results

The PRK procedure is completed under local anesthesia and takes up to 10 minutes to complete. Once the procedure is complete, the surgeon applies a bandage contact lens. This will be worn for approximately three to four days to allow the eye’s surface to heal.

After the surgery, you must visit your eye doctor several times within the first six months. The first visit will be the day directly after the surgery. Once the surface of your eye has fully healed, the bandage contact lens will be removed.

In the first few weeks after this procedure, you may notice that your vision fluctuates from blurry to clear, meaning you may have to wear glasses until your vision becomes stable. Your eyes will also be, although they may not feel that way. The eye doctor will provide you with a prescription eye drop that is crucial to use to avoid infection and ensure that your eyes are kept moist.

As time progresses, your vision will improve and allow you to drive a car within two or three weeks following the surgery. However, you should remember that optimum vision may take six weeks to six months following the PRK surgery. The is longer compared to some other.

PRK can be a good option for individuals with thin corneas who may not qualify for LASIK. It might be recommended over other procedures such as:

  • LASEK
  • EpiLasik
  • Implantable Collamer Lens (EVO ICL)
  • Conductive Keratoplasty
  • Clear Lens Extraction
  • Refractive Lens Exchange
  • Phakic Intraocular Lenses

While corneal haze is a potential side effect, studies have shown that the risk is lower with modern wavefront-guided LASIK than earlier PRK techniques. PRK remains the preferred non-surgical alternative to LASIK and non-surgical vision correction procedures for many.

Contact our Las Vegas clinic if you have any more questions or would like to consult an eye doctor about whether PRK is the right procedure for you. We can discuss all the laser eye surgery options to find the optimal treatment for your needs.