Photofrefractive Keratectomy

What is PRK?

If you are nearsighted and have stable vision, you may be a good candidate for PRK. We use an excimer laser to treat your eyes during PRK. It is essentially similar to LASIK, but instead of lifting the flap, the epithelium is scraped. The success of PRK depends mainly on your prescription for glasses.

Not all eyes heal at the same rate. That's why we always correct just one eye at a time. This allows you and your doctor to evaluate the results before treating the second eye. your eye needs time to heal after PRK. Your vision will be blurry at first, but it should start to clear in three to four days. PRK works well for most people, but there is no guarantee that you'll have perfect vision or never need distance or reading glasses again.

PRK offers the advantages of accuracy, more stable vision and a stronger eye (of hit or injured) compared to RK. PRK does not change your vision overnight. It takes several weeks to months for your eye to heal and your vision to clear completely.

The procedure is painless, but you can expect to have some pain and blurred vision during the healing process.

PRK Reshapes Your Eye

PRK flattens the center of the cornea with a laser. This is how the procedure is done:

Your refraction (glasses prescription) is entered into a computer, which calculates the amount and pattern of tissue to be removed. The laser delivers a programmed number of pulses of ultraviolet light. Each pulse removes a microscopic layer of cornea from over the pupil, flattening the cornea. When the center of the cornea is flattened, light rays are focused more directly on the retina and images are clearer.

They laser the cornea by removing surface layers.

What are the side effects of PRK?

• A haze may develop in the cornea a few weeks after surgery, and normally clears quickly. If it does not, vision can be cloudy for months. Only rarely is the haze permanent.
• There is a very small risk of infection, which could scar the cornea and decrease vision.
• Your vision could worsen. Astigmatism (irregular curvature of the cornea) or farsightedness might develop. Variable vision is possible but unlikely.
• The pressure inside the eye may temporarily rise as a result of the eyedrops used after surgery.
• Some people are more sensitive to glare or see halos around lights, but this is rarely troublesome.
• A second treatment could be needed if nearsightedness is not sufficiently corrected.

What Can I expect during my recovery and follow-up?

Your recovery and follow-up care begin right after your surgery.

You will wear a soft contact lens on your eye for a few days to protect the cornea as it heals. Dr. Shofner will also give you one or more eyedrops to relive pain, prevent infection and promote healing. We will give you a schedule for using your eyedrops. Your vision will clear as your cornea heals.

Dr. Shofner will check your eye frequently at first to make sure your cornea is healing properly. Then Dr. Shofner will monitor your recovery over the next few months. You will probably see the greatest improvement in you vision within two to three months after PRK.

- back to top -