What is PRK surgery?

A photorefractive keratectomy is performed to treat refractive errors in your eyes. By using a laser to change the shape of your cornea, this procedure improves the way rays of light are focused on your retina. You may need a PRK if you've been diagnosed with the following eye issues: Myopia (nearsightedness).

What is better PRK or LASIK?

Due to its shorter recovery time, Lasik for the majority of patients, is the better choice. However, PRK best advantages is it does not require much of the cornea, thus making it the best choice for patients with thin corneas, large pupils, irregular astigmatism, or people involved in contact sports/jobs.

How many years does PRK last?

How Long Does PRK Last? PRK is considered to be permanent. However, it cannot prevent eyes from aging, nor the optical conditions that can develop as a result. If you have PRK surgery at 40 years of age or older, you can expect these changes to occur.

Is PRK surgery painful?

PRK surgery can bring about some discomfort, but it's important to follow the correct post-surgery guidelines during the recovery process, that your doctor gives you. Topical anesthetic eye drops are given prior to PRK surgery so you shouldn't feel any pain during the procedure.

Is PRK worth the risk?

However, when PRK is performed by an experienced surgeon, the risk of complications is quite low. In fact, this surgery is among the safest procedures today when performed properly. One advantage of PRK over LASIK is that there is no risk of flap complications because no corneal flap is created.

LASIK or PRK? Which is right for me? Animation.

Are you blind after PRK?

You may also experience corneal haze, a cloudy layer that can significantly obstruct vision, for a short period of time after surgery. While considered safe, PRK surgery is not without risk. Risks include: loss of vision that can't be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Will I need glasses after PRK?

With PRK surgery, we prescribe medicated eye drops that help keep your eye moist during the healing process. You may also be given pain medications to keep you comfortable. Most patients after PRK eye surgery don't need glasses as they achieve 20/20 vision.

How blurry is vision after PRK?

Your vision will be blurry for several days following the procedure, but your eyesight should improve as the days and weeks pass. Most patients experience optimal visual acuity between 1 – 3 months after having PRK laser eye surgery.

How long does it take to get 20/20 vision after PRK?

PRK can accurately correct nearsightedness. Approximately 90% of PRK patients have 20/20 vision without glasses or contact lenses one year after the surgery.

How long wear goggles after PRK?

Healing Tips

*You may experience burning, watery eyes, or scratchiness and irritation as soon as 30 minutes after your procedure. It is helpful to keep your eyes closed as much as possible. * Wear sunglasses even indoors if light bothers you. *Wear goggles while sleeping for 1 week.

Who is a good candidate for PRK?

Ideal candidates for PRK are people who experience refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism) and would like to achieve great vision without the reliance on corrective lenses. They should be in good health overall and understand the risks and benefits of PRK.

What are the side effects of PRK surgery?

How long after PRK see clearly?

It is common to be sensitive to light or to see starbursts or halos for 1 to 3 weeks. Most people will see well in a few weeks. But for some people, it takes 3 to 6 months to get the full benefits of surgery and to see as clearly as possible.

Which is cheaper LASIK or PRK?

The difference in price between LASIK and PRK can be as much as $1200. LASIK surgery ranges in price between $1000 to $2600 per eye to perform. PRK laser eye surgery's average cost is $2000 to $4000 for both eyes. Both procedures are considered an elective procedure and therefore are typically paid out of pocket.

What is the safest eye surgery?

Laser vision correction (LVC) is considered the safest eye correction surgery to obtain a “specs-free” life for patients with myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (blurring of vision due to improper shape of the eye).

Why do people choose PRK over LASIK?

PRK is preferred over LASIK in the presence of certain corneal findings. For example, if your cornea is too thin, or if there is evidence of forme fruste keratoconus. PRK is sometimes chosen if there is moderate to severe dry eye as there is often less postoperative dry eye with PRK.

Can I use my phone after PRK?

It may last up to 4 days with PRK. When after surgery can I use my computer, tablet, and cell phone? It will not harm your eyes or their recovery from surgery if you try to use your eyes immediately. However, most patients feel more comfortable closing their eyes for the first few hours after surgery.

Can I get PRK twice?

If you choose to have a second PRK procedure, there's nothing to worry about. Subsequent/follow-up surgery is usually the same as the original procedure in that the entire epithelium will be removed to allow access to the underlying cornea in order to reshape it.

Does PRK fix astigmatism?

Your eye doctor can tell you which treatment options are right for you. Two laser surgeries that can treat astigmatism are LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) and PRK (photorefractive keratectomy).

What happens if you don't wear sunglasses after PRK?

Consider Protective Eyewear

Dust, debris, or grass can interrupt your healing process if they enter your eyes. Goggles can also protect your eyes when you go swimming. After your PRK surgery, you cannot get your eyes wet. Water can expose your cornea to fungi and bacteria that can cause pain and even vision loss.

Can PRK cause glaucoma?

Following refractive surgery, a number of glaucoma-related problems can arise: After PRK, watch for steroid-induced glaucoma. The biggest glaucoma-related issue in the post-operative period is associated with the use of steroids, primarily following PRK.

Can PRK make your vision worse?

In the first day or so after PRK, vision in the treated eye may be good. As the top surface layer heals, your vision may actually get slightly worse. This is expected and due to the slightly “bumpy“ nature of the new epithelium under the bandage soft contact lens.

Does PRK last as long as LASIK?

LASIK takes a few days or less to see clearly while PRK takes about a month. The final results won't differ between the two if the procedure is done properly by a licensed, experienced surgeon. Overall, PRK is considered to be safer and more effective in the long term because it doesn't leave a flap in your cornea.

Can you get LASIK after PRK?

Because the PRK procedure involves the removal of some of the cornea, some patients may have thinner corneas than others. This means that patients that have undergone PRK can have LASIK after their initial vision correction procedure, but only if there is adequate corneal thickness available.

Who Cannot get PRK?

One of the factors determining if you're right for PRK is if your eyes are healthy. This means you can't have any current eye infections or eye injuries that could affect your PRK results. You also can't have any conditions like glaucoma or cataracts.