Am I a PRK Candidate?

Candidates for PRK include patients who have a thin cornea, are at least 18 years of age, and have had a stable vision prescription for at least one year. Learn more about the difference between the PRK procedure and LASIK, and who is a good candidate for these procedures.

What Are the Requirements for the PRK Procedure?

The only way to be sure that you qualify for PRK eye surgery is to visit a local ophthalmologist and have an eye exam. Patients who are not good candidates for LASIK are often good candidates for PRK surgery. However, there are a few general requirements:

• Candidates should be at least 18 years old – this ensures that the eye has matured and developed properly.
• Your vision must be stable for at least one year prior to surgery.
• You must have no abnormalities of the cornea or external eye.
• You must understand the risks involved with PRK surgery and have realistic expectations regarding the outcome.
• Candidates should not be pregnant or nursing at the time of surgery– hormones cause tissue fluctuations within the eye, changing the refractive error.

Can a Patient with a Thin Cornea Undergo the PRK Procedure?

PRK is a good choice for patients with thin corneas, because during this procedure the laser ablation only affects the very surface of the cornea.

The risk for patients who undergo any refractive procedure, such as PRK, with thin corneas is that during the procedure, the corneas will be made even thinner. Experts believe that the ideal cornea is no thinner than 250 mikrons thick, and thicker corneas are better, since the cornea acts to protect the eye. During LASIK, the flap created on the cornea can be as thick as 160 mikrons. For patients with already thin corneas, this can greatly jeopardize corneal integrity.

During PRK, the cornea’s structure is less altered than with LASIK surgery; this is especially important for patients with a thin cornea because the procedure allows the doctor to leave enough cornea intact to protect against future eye trauma.

If opting for PRK, patients with a thin cornea will be thoroughly examined pre- procedure by their doctor to determine if the thin cornea is the result of a disease or a natural occurrence. If the eye is diseased, scarred, or warped, PRK or any other refractive procedure is not advisable. To learn more about the benefits of PRK for patients with a thin cornea, use this website to contact a local surgeon who is an expert at this procedure.

The Difference between PRK and LASIK

Now that refractive procedures have become more common and patients’ options more diverse, many patients are curious about the difference between PRK and LASIK. While both procedures offer excellent and comparable results, there are some salient differences between the two, including:

The Corneal Flap

During PRK, the actual surface area of the cornea is reshaped with a laser, while in LASIK, a corneal flap is created and the cornea is reshaped from the inside. Because of this, another difference between PRK and LASIK is that after PRK, the superficial layers of the cornea must heal. This involves longer recovery time, more follow-up visits with the doctor, higher risk of infection, and slower recovery of the patient’s best vision.

High Risk Patients

Since only the surface of the cornea is affected during PRK, for patients with a thin cornea, this is the preferred procedure. PRK is also preferable for patients with certain corneal dystrophies or scars, or a condition called "recurrent corneal erosion."

Another difference between PRK and LASIK is that PRK is easier for the surgeon to perform because it does not involve the creation of a corneal flap. This is preferable for young patients or other patients who may have trouble remaining still for the duration of the procedure.

Comparable Results

In spite of the procedural differences between PRK and LASIK, once the eyes are completely healed (in about six months), patients enjoy equivalent vision improvement. The best way to know which procedure is best for you is to discuss all options with your doctor.

Locate a PRK Specialist with DocShop

If you are interested in learning more about the difference between PRK and LASIK, the benefits of PRK for patients with a thin cornea, or any other refractive procedure, you can find an expert in your area using our online directory.