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Photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK, is one of several laser treatments used to treat certain refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. PRK, also known as advanced surface ablation (ASA), and often called the “original laser eye surgery.” Refractive Error Correction PRK is an alternative to LASIK to correct refractive errors. It may be an option for patients whose corneas are too thin or flat for LASIK, who have large pupils, or are otherwise not a good LASIK candidate. The major difference between PRK and LASIK is the method used to gain access to the cornea. In PRK the epithelial cells that cover the cornea are brushed away and will need to grow back during healing, compared to LASIK in which the epithelial cell layer is preserved by slicing it into a flap that is replaced after the procedure. The PRK Procedure You will be given an anesthetic to numb your eyes and won’t feel anything during the procedure. After you have been prepared for the procedure, your ophthalmologist will use a sterile PRK brush to remove the epithelial cells that line the surface of the cornea. With the cornea exposed in PRK, as in LASIK, your ophthalmologist uses the laser to reshape corneal tissue by ablating, or removing tissue. If, during your evaluation, you had Wavefront diagnostics to map the exact measurements of your eyes, this computerized data will likely be used to guide the laser in sculpting the optimum shape for best refractive error correction. The actual ablation takes only about a minute per eye, and about 15 minutes including the time preparing for surgery and finishing in the surgical suite. PRK is done on an outpatient basis, so you will go home after a short recovery period. PRK Healing PRK healing takes six to eight weeks while the epithelial cells grow back. This is slower than LASIK, which preserves the epithelial cells, but is about the same as LASIK and Lasek at three to six months. Healing is faster than procedures using alcohol to separate the epithelial cells. PRK Prognosis Crisp and clear vision depends upon the regrowth of epithelial cells. Most people can expect good results after healing is complete,. Two-thirds of PRK patients see 20/20 or better without corrective lenses and 95% can see well enough to pass a driver’s test at 20/40. Because PRK is surgery, there are risks, many of them common to all surgery patients, such as infection. Some patients have reported a loss of clarity in their vision that cannot be corrected by glasses or contact lenses. Undercorrections and overcorrections do happen. Undercorrections can be retreated, but overcorrections are treated with corrective lenses. Some patients report a decrease in night vision, or seeing halos or starbursts around lights. Most people are pleased with their PRK results, one of which is often freedom from wearing corrective lenses. If you would like to find out if PRK is the best option to improve your vision, please visit the website of Bellevue LASIK & Cornea serving patients near Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Olympia, and Tacoma, Washington.
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