PRK Procedure
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. PRK laser surgery, or photorefractive keratectomy, is a type of laser eye surgery designed to correct low degrees of myopia and astigmatism. Prior to PRK laser surgery, the eye will be anesthetized with eye drops. The surgeon then uses the laser (a cool, concentrated beam of ultraviolet light) to remove the surface layer of the cornea and reshape the underlying tissue.
The Corneal Flap vs. Removal of the Epithelial Layer
PRK laser surgery differs from LASIK in that a corneal flap is not created before the laser is used to ablate the eye. During PRK, the outermost layer of the cornea, the epithelium, is completely removed. After the epithelial layer is removed, the surgeon uses a laser to reshape the cornea. In LASIK surgery, a corneal flap is created with a microkeratome blade or a laser, allowing the surgeon to access and reshape underlying layers of corneal tissue.
What to Expect During PRK Surgery
Because the entire epithelial layer of the eye is removed during PRK surgery, 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. Still, in some cases, surgeons prefer the PRK procedure because it avoids flap complications (despite post-operative healing and discomfort).
The actual PRK procedure takes less than 15 minutes, but preoperative preparation may extend surgery time to one hour. Both eyes can be done at the same time, but some surgeons prefer to do each eye separately. Most refractive surgeons perform this type of laser vision correction as an outpatient procedure.
Contact a Surgeon
Contact a local PRK surgeon to schedule your consultation about treatment.
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