PRK Surgery

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is the first type of laser surgery developed for vision correction and can treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. If you’re considering PRK surgery, the experienced ophthalmologists at Eye Care & Surgery can help determine if you’re a suitable candidate. We offer PRK at three convenient locations: in Washington Heights, Manhattan; near the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, directly across from Yankee Stadium; and in New Rochelle, just minutes from downtown and near New Rochelle High School. While recovery from PRK may take a bit longer than LASIK, this procedure can offer distinct advantages for some adults. Call your nearest Eye Care & Surgery office or book your consultation online today.

What is PRK surgery?

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) surgery is a laser eye surgery that reshapes your cornea using an excimer laser. Reshaping your cornea allows light to focus properly on your retina so you can see clearly without depending on glasses or contact lenses. 

PRK surgery is similar to its successor, LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis), but different in how PRK reshapes your cornea. 

During a bladeless PRK procedure, your Eye Care & Surgery doctor completely removes a thin outer layer of your cornea, then uses the excimer laser to reshape the underlying corneal tissue. 

The outer layer of the cornea — the epithelium — grows back over the surface of your cornea within a few days after PRK surgery.

Alternatively, during LASIK surgery, your doctor doesn’t remove the epithelium but instead creates a thin flap that gets replaced after reshaping the underlying cornea. 

Why would I choose PRK surgery over LASIK?

Your eye surgeon may recommend PRK surgery instead of LASIK if your cornea isn’t thick enough to perform the LASIK procedure. Additionally, PRK may be advantageous for adults with chronic dry eye, or those who work in professions with a high risk of eye injury. 

While it typically takes longer to recover from PRK surgery than LASIK, about 90% of people have 20/40 vision or better three months after surgery, and after a year, 90% of people have 20/20 vision. 

That means that even if you aren’t a good candidate for LASIK, but you still want to see as clearly as possible without depending on glasses or contact lenses, PRK surgery may be the ideal solution. 

What is the recovery like after PRK surgery?

Although the procedure itself is fairly quick, after PRK surgery, you may experience some pain and discomfort. Your surgeon prescribes antibiotics and anti-inflammatory pain medications to reduce symptoms and minimize swelling and places bandage contact lenses on the eyes for comfort. 

Over the weeks that follow your surgery, expect to have several follow-up appointments at Eye Care & Surgery so your doctor can monitor your progress and make sure your eyes are healing properly. 

It may be days or even a few weeks before you’re happy with your ability to see more clearly. And it takes up to three months for your vision to stabilize. You can typically drive 1-3 weeks after surgery, though. 

You should be careful to avoid sunlight, swimming, and getting sand or debris in your eyes after PRK surgery to reduce your risk of infection and light sensitivity issues. 

To find out if PRK surgery is the best option for you, call Eye Care & Surgery today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online. 

Do you suffer from Cataracts? Ask us how Cataract Surgery can help you today.