At one point, PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) was the most common eye surgery procedure before LASIK was developed. LASIK and PRK are both similar procedures for laser eye surgery however each have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Individuals that have gone through a LASIK surgery procedure have noted less discomfort and have obtained their optimal vision very quickly. PRK on the other hand takes a few weeks to even months to gain optimal vision as vision improvement gradual increases over time. Surgeons have a greater preference towards PRK in particularly for patients that have think corenas.

The invention of PRK was during the early 1980s and the FDA approved PRK Surgery in 1995. The procedure however was approved in other countries years prior to the United States. In fact many Americans went to Canada for PRK laser surgery because it was available widely prior to the USA.

An excimer laser is used for PRK laser eye surgery, where an ultraviolet light beam removes tissue from the surface of the cornea as it reshapes it. When the cornea is reshaped correctly, it allows the eye to focus clearer providing improved vision that is permanent.

Patients that are nearsighted and farsighted can gain benefits from PRK Surgery. In the case with nearsighted individuals, the objective is to flatten the steep cornea and for farsighted individuals, it?s the other way around where a steeper cornea is required. The laser surgery can also correct astigmatism by smoothing the cornea and reshaping it to normal.

Prior to PRK Surgery

If you are seeking PRK laser vision correction then the first thing you need to do is choose a clinic and a reputable surgeon. You will have an eye examination to determine what type of vision correction you require and the amount of laser ablation that you need. A corneal topographer; an instrument that measures the curvature of the front portion of your eye and creates a detailed illustration of your cornea, will generally be used. Perfectly rounded cornea is not common and therefore the topographer will show the irregular shape of your cornea and the steepness or flatness that the surgeon will need to correct.

You should also be aware that your eye doctor will typically ask you several questions such as your medical conditions and if severe, it may result in disqualifying you from being a PRK candidate, or re-appoint you to another date until your medical conditions improve.

During a PRK Surgery

PRK is an procedure where you walk in to your surgery clinic, have your PRK surgery and after an hour later you will walk out. The actual surgery only takes a few minutes, generally 10 ? 15 minutes and you are awake during the whole procedure. The doctor usually will offer you an oral sedative prior to your surgery to calm your nerves such as volume.

During your PRK vision correction, you may generally not feel any pain as special anesthetic eye drops are placed in your eyes prior to the procedure. You will lie down with your eyes positioned directly under the laser. Only one eye is corrected at a time and a retained is placed under your eyelids to keep your eyes wide open.

A computer is used by the doctor to adjust the laser for your eyes prescription. During the procedure you will be required to look at a target light for a while as your doctor looks at your eye through a microscope to ensure it remains in the right position while the laser sends pulses of light directly to your cornea that removes the tissue as it reshapes. This is a painless procedure, however it is very important that you look at the target light in order to get the optimal end results.

You will hear a clicking sound coming from the laser as it reshapes your cornea and you may also notice an odor during the tissue removal, do not be alarmed as this is normal for the procedure. If your prescription is higher, than the more time the surgery may take, even with high prescriptions however, the laser surgery still only takes about a minute.

Your surgeon controls the laser at all times and can turn it on or off whenever they may need to. Upon completion of the procedure, you will be sent to another room where you will rest for a while, generally 30 minutes. After that point you will have your eyes examined one more time before you leave to ensure everything worked out successfully.

After PRK Surgery

Just like any other surgery, it is very important that you follow up with your doctor?s instructions a lot of rest. You should use all medications prescribed to you and contact your doctor immediately if you feel that their might be a problem.

After a successful eye surgery, and you have rested for approximately 30 minutes you will then be permitted to go home however someone else must drive you.

Depending on how well your body was able to take the surgery, you may be able to go to work the next day however it is advised that you should take a few days to get much needed rest, ideally four days would be sufficient. It is recommended to not do any strenuous exercises for at least a week because it can traumatize the healing effect in the eye. You should also avoid rubbing your eye completely.

Your eye doctor will give you another eye examination the day after your surgery and a few more times after that so that they can ensure the epithelium is healing correctly. You will wear a bandage type contact lens and use several different types of eyedrops for a few days to several weeks after, such as antibiotic drops and anti-inflammatory drops along side with moisturizers. You will also have medications that will help reduce discomfort in your eye for the first couple of days after your successful PRK Surgery.

The results of PRK and LASIK surgery is similar. Many individuals will get 20/20 vision or better with PRK or LASIK surgery, and some might only get 20/40, which is not as good but still better than using corrective eye glasses or contact lenses. Some patients however may still need contact lenses or glasses after a laser vision correction however the prescription level will be lower than before.

Even with 20/20 vision after PRK surgery, you may still require reading glasses when you reach your 40s or 50s. This is due to the fact that the lens in your eye becomes less flexible while you age and it reduces your near vision. On the other hand, you distance vision will remain clear, but seeing up close will not. This is called presbyopia. Presbyopia is currently going through clinical tries and presbyopia surgery correction procedures are currently in the works and if successful it may later be performed to correct your near vision once it gets approved.