subject: Prk Eye Surgery - What Patients Must Know About This Alternative To Lasik [print this page] PRK is one of the newest forms of laser eye treatment. Like LASIK, it involves the use of lasers to precisely reshape the cornea of the eye. The major difference between PRK and other laser procedures is the way in which the eye surgeon gains access to the cornea. During PRK, cells at the surface of the cornea are removed (ablated) using a laser. This is in contrast to LASIK and related procedures which require cutting into the layers of the cornea to remove cells from middle layers or underneath the cornea rather than at the surface of the eye.
Very precise layers of the cornea are removed to accurately reshape the cornea, resulting in improved vision. The cool ultraviolet light used to remove microscopic layers of your cornea is not painful; anesthetic eye drops will be used to minimize any discomfort.
Also known as photorefractive keratectomy, PRK is usually used to correct mild or moderate vision problems. PRK eye surgery is most frequently used to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness (by increasing or decreasing the slope of the cornea), though it can also be used in the correction of astigmatism (by smoothing irregularities in the cornea).
PRK may be the right solution for patients with thin corneas, certain types of corneal surface abnormalities, or large pupils, which make LASIK difficult or risky to perform. However, the methods used during PRK may cause a little more discomfort than those used for LASIK and related procedures.
One downside of PRK is that the recovery period is typically a little longer than the healing time required with LASIK because the outermost layer of the cornea has been removed. Vision will improve gradually over the days and weeks following the procedure. You will be able to return home immediately following the PRK procedure, though you should avoid any strenuous activities for a week.
