PRK Surgery

Photorefractive keratectomy, PRK surgery is generally for those who have long-sightedness or hyperopia and nearsightedness or myopia. Its main mission is to reshape the cornea of an affected eye and rectify its vision.

PRK surgery doesn’t consume too much time. It is normally completed within a few minutes or sometimes just one minute. In this process an Excimer laser with a certain wavelength of ultraviolet light energy takes out the main tissues which form above the cornea. This way the cornea gets back its original structure, which results in improved vision.

Does PRK Surgery Hurt?

The patient’s eye is anesthetized with a gentle eye drop prior to the surgery. Then the affected eye of the patient is placed in a straight line just below the laser. This causes the eyelid to blink, so with a retainer it is restricted and the eye remains open all along the process. This retainer however is not painful, and it only causes a tiny bit of discomfort to the patient.

There is a light (target) at which the patient needs to stare and focus and in the mean time the doctor studies the eye via his microscope. This happens for a while. During this the eye cornea receives light pulses from the laser and this helps the eye to get rid of the tissues that were causing vision problems.

PRK surgery might not be a time consuming surgery but it must be taken seriously. The doctor should be one of the most reputed doctors, as he studies the patient’s eyes, analyzes them and advises regarding the treatment he / she needs. Here the doctor inspects corneal abnormality of the eye, if any, with a corneal topographer. Once the surgery is done, the patient can get back to his/her normal work schedule, however, the advice and directions from the doctor should be strictly followed. It’s always better to take a break from your work and give your eye and body some rest for the next few days. Below is a detailed video we found on Youtube that explains what a expert might tell you before surgery.

Many countries have been applying this method since 1984; however the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in 1995. Since then, technically it has progressed a lot with new scientific discoveries.

How old do I have to be for PRK Surgery?

A question might arise regarding the age limit of the patient who is supposed to go through this process. Minimum age for this surgery has to be 20 years. Apart from this he/she should have the advice or prescription to have eyeglasses consistently for a year. He/she should also have disease free eyes.

I can’t have LASIK but can I have PRK Surgery?

This surgery can also help someone who is not eligible for LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) surgery. This is capable of giving the patients around 99% vision rectification. Being the most secure and dependable, PRK surgery gives you an assurance of recovery without any major hassles.