Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) 

Laser vision correction can be a life-changing treatment and improve a patient’s quality of life. PRK corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism to reduce or eliminate your need for glasses and contacts so you can see clearly without the hassle.

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Learn more about Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

What is Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) and How Does it Work?

PRK is a laser eye surgery that corrects refractive errors such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism to reduce your dependency on glasses and contacts. PRK is the first FDA-approved laser vision correction procedure and has been used since its approval in 1995 to correct the vision of countless patients.

PRK improves vision by reshaping the cornea. This is done by first removing the surface cells, called epithelial cells. The cornea’s curvature is then precisely adjusted by applying a laser treatment to its surface. The corrected curvature of the cornea then allows light to come into focus accurately within the eye, allowing you to see more clearly without using visual aids.

How Can I Benefit From Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)?

Just like similar laser procedures, including LASIK and SMILE, PRK has enhanced the quality of life of many patients. While glasses and contacts help correct refractive errors, they can also pose many challenges that regular users are all too familiar with. With PRK, you can avoid the hassle and cost of replacing glasses and contacts, stay active, and adventure to new places without worry. You can also prevent the risks of contacts that can come with bad habits, such as sleeping in contacts or improper use.

Some of the benefits of PRK include:

  • Correct nearsightedness 
  • Correct farsightedness
  • Correct astigmatism 
  • An excellent option for patients who play contact sports
  • Better vision when night driving

What to Expect During Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) 

On the day of your appointment, our staff will help prepare you for PRK. Your nurse will administer numbing eye drops to ensure you do not feel any discomfort during the procedure. We will place an eyelid holder to gently hold your eye open to prevent blinking. 

Your surgeon will then carefully remove the epithelial cells from your eye. They will then begin treatment with our advanced laser, which will track your eye movements during surgery. If a patient were to move their eye during the procedure, the laser would move with them. If they cough, sneeze, or move their head during the laser treatment, the laser will stop and wait until the patient is re-oriented before the surgeon restarts the procedure. PRK is quick and painless; the laser takes just 1 to 15 seconds, while the entire treatment takes around 15 minutes.

Following PRK, your surgeon will place Mitomycin-C, a medication that helps prevent scarring, on the surface of the cornea for several seconds, then rinse it away. Patients who may be pregnant should avoid Miotmycin-C. Your practitioner will then place a contact lens into the eye. This lens acts as a bandage, protecting the eye from exposure as well as irritation caused by blinking or eye movements. The bandage lens stays in place until it is ready to be removed by the surgeon.

Recovery Timeline for Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) 

You may see immediate improvements to your vision after PRK. Over the next two days, your vision may become blurrier, but it will typically improve after three to five days. At this time, the bandage contact lens should be ready to remove. It is normal for patients to be slightly nearsighted following contact lens removal. In the month following the contact lens removal, vision will continue to improve. Once fully healed, patients often report clearer vision following PRK than they were able to achieve with contact lenses or glasses.

Following PRK, patients are scheduled for a follow-up examination the next day, the following week, one month after surgery, and three months after surgery. After the three-month visit, we recommend annual eye exams each year to continue monitoring the ongoing health of the eyes.

Eye drops are an essential part of the healing process. You will need to use medicated eye drops frequently in the week following PRK and then at a decreased frequency over the next few weeks. We generally recommend lubricating eye drops for the first few months following surgery, and you may use them as needed indefinitely.

Who Can Have Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)?

PRK can be used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. As with SMILE and LASIK, we only recommend PRK for patients who are 18 years or older with healthy corneas, have a stable glasses prescription, and show no signs of cataracts.

Below is a list of requirements:

  • You are over the age of 18
  • Your eyes are in good health and do not have any eye diseases or corneal abnormalities, including scarring or infections 
  • You can stop using contact lenses for one to two weeks before your consultation (four or more weeks for hard contact lenses)
  • You can diligently use post-op medications and come to post-op visits

LASIK vs. SMILE vs. PRK 

Unlike LASIK, PRK treatment does not create a flap in the cornea, which makes it a better treatment option for patients who play contact sports or have an active lifestyle or job. Patients with high prescriptions are sometimes better suited for PRK rather than LASIK.

PRK and SMILE are associated with fewer dry eye symptoms than LASIK. PRK and SMILE are also suitable for patients with thin corneas, while LASIK is not. PRK can treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, while SMILE can correct only nearsightedness and astigmatism. PRK has the longest recovery time compared to LASIK and SMILE.

What is Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) and How Does it Work?

PRK is a laser eye surgery that corrects refractive errors such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism to reduce your dependency on glasses and contacts. PRK is the first FDA-approved laser vision correction procedure and has been used since its approval in 1995 to correct the vision of countless patients.

PRK improves vision by reshaping the cornea. This is done by first removing the surface cells, called epithelial cells. The cornea’s curvature is then precisely adjusted by applying a laser treatment to its surface. The corrected curvature of the cornea then allows light to come into focus accurately within the eye, allowing you to see more clearly without using visual aids.

How Can I Benefit From Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)?

Just like similar laser procedures, including LASIK and SMILE, PRK has enhanced the quality of life of many patients. While glasses and contacts help correct refractive errors, they can also pose many challenges that regular users are all too familiar with. With PRK, you can avoid the hassle and cost of replacing glasses and contacts, stay active, and adventure to new places without worry. You can also prevent the risks of contacts that can come with bad habits, such as sleeping in contacts or improper use.

Some of the benefits of PRK include:

  • Correct nearsightedness 
  • Correct farsightedness
  • Correct astigmatism 
  • An excellent option for patients who play contact sports
  • Better vision when night driving

What to Expect During Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) 

On the day of your appointment, our staff will help prepare you for PRK. Your nurse will administer numbing eye drops to ensure you do not feel any discomfort during the procedure. We will place an eyelid holder to gently hold your eye open to prevent blinking. 

Your surgeon will then carefully remove the epithelial cells from your eye. They will then begin treatment with our advanced laser, which will track your eye movements during surgery. If a patient were to move their eye during the procedure, the laser would move with them. If they cough, sneeze, or move their head during the laser treatment, the laser will stop and wait until the patient is re-oriented before the surgeon restarts the procedure. PRK is quick and painless; the laser takes just 1 to 15 seconds, while the entire treatment takes around 15 minutes.

Following PRK, your surgeon will place Mitomycin-C, a medication that helps prevent scarring, on the surface of the cornea for several seconds, then rinse it away. Patients who may be pregnant should avoid Miotmycin-C. Your practitioner will then place a contact lens into the eye. This lens acts as a bandage, protecting the eye from exposure as well as irritation caused by blinking or eye movements. The bandage lens stays in place until it is ready to be removed by the surgeon.

Recovery Timeline for Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) 

You may see immediate improvements to your vision after PRK. Over the next two days, your vision may become blurrier, but it will typically improve after three to five days. At this time, the bandage contact lens should be ready to remove. It is normal for patients to be slightly nearsighted following contact lens removal. In the month following the contact lens removal, vision will continue to improve. Once fully healed, patients often report clearer vision following PRK than they were able to achieve with contact lenses or glasses.

Following PRK, patients are scheduled for a follow-up examination the next day, the following week, one month after surgery, and three months after surgery. After the three-month visit, we recommend annual eye exams each year to continue monitoring the ongoing health of the eyes.

Eye drops are an essential part of the healing process. You will need to use medicated eye drops frequently in the week following PRK and then at a decreased frequency over the next few weeks. We generally recommend lubricating eye drops for the first few months following surgery, and you may use them as needed indefinitely.

Who Can Have Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)?

PRK can be used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. As with SMILE and LASIK, we only recommend PRK for patients who are 18 years or older with healthy corneas, have a stable glasses prescription, and show no signs of cataracts.

Below is a list of requirements:

  • You are over the age of 18
  • Your eyes are in good health and do not have any eye diseases or corneal abnormalities, including scarring or infections 
  • You can stop using contact lenses for one to two weeks before your consultation (four or more weeks for hard contact lenses)
  • You can diligently use post-op medications and come to post-op visits

LASIK vs. SMILE vs. PRK 

Unlike LASIK, PRK treatment does not create a flap in the cornea, which makes it a better treatment option for patients who play contact sports or have an active lifestyle or job. Patients with high prescriptions are sometimes better suited for PRK rather than LASIK.

PRK and SMILE are associated with fewer dry eye symptoms than LASIK. PRK and SMILE are also suitable for patients with thin corneas, while LASIK is not. PRK can treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, while SMILE can correct only nearsightedness and astigmatism. PRK has the longest recovery time compared to LASIK and SMILE.

Laser Vision Correction FAQ

Vision following laser vision correction is often better than it was with glasses or contact lenses. With today’s precise technology, combined with the expertise and experience of our surgeons at Heart of Texas Eye Care, most patients achieve 20/20 or better vision! 

Results depend on the underlying health of the eye. If there are issues that limit the vision in other parts of the eye, such as the retina or optic nerve, SMILE can help make vision as clear as possible, but the underlying issue will still limit vision.

PRK is an entirely pain-free procedure. The numbing drops prevent discomfort, and we may also administer medication to help calm your nerves. Our team is dedicated to patient care and comfort, so if you are nervous about treatment, just let us know, and we will accommodate you as best we can.

If hydration, artificial tears, supplements, or medications can resolve your dry eye symptoms, laser vision correction may be an option. Before vision correction, your surgeon will help you treat dry eye issues. We often recommend PRK for patients prone to dry eyes because it is associated with minimal dry eye symptoms.

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Next Step

Would you like to learn more about Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) and take the first step toward a clearer future? Then please fill out our online form below or call us at (512) 213-2220 to get started with an in-person consultation at Heart of Texas Eye Care. Our courteous staff and board-certified ophthalmologists are here to assist you through every step of your journey!

Request a Consultation

Clearer Vision
Starts Here

If you’re ready for lasting vision correction with LASIK, a consultation for cataracts, or maybe blepharoplasty to rejuvenate aging eyes, our team can help. Or maybe it’s time for your yearly eye exam or maintenance Botox® injections. Click the button below to explore financing options for all your eye care needs.

View Our Financing Options

Clearer Vision
Starts Here

View Our Financing Options

If you’re ready for lasting vision correction with LASIK, a consultation for cataracts, or maybe blepharoplasty to rejuvenate aging eyes, our team can help. Or maybe it’s time for your yearly eye exam or maintenance Botox® injections. Click the button below to explore financing options for all your eye care needs.