The PRK Procedure
For patients with thinner corneal thickness or irregular epithelium (the top skin surface of the cornea) it may be a better option to perform Photo Refractive Keratectomy (PRK). PRK is also preferred when correcting vision in patients with cornea transplants and sometimes used for enhancements in patients who have had previous LASIK that was done several years in the past.
There are 3 main steps to the PRK procedure:
1. The superficial skin cells of the cornea (the epithelium) is removed.
2. The excimer laser reshapes the cornea to correct your prescription.
3. A bandage contact lens is placed on the eye to help the healing process and will remain on the eye until the superficial skin cells have grown back in place (usually 3-4 days).
Due to the removal of the superficial surface cells of the cornea (the epithelium) with PRK there is a slower recovery of comfort and best vision. Patients undergoing PRK should allow time off work or any other critical task for the first 3-4 days to allow the eye to properly heal. Most PRK patients are back to normal activities after about a week and then the postoperative course is much like that of a LASIK patient