Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a type of refractive surgery. This kind of surgery uses a laser to treat vision problems caused by refractive errors. You have a refractive error when your eye does not refract (bend) light properly.
With PRK, your ophthalmologist uses a laser to change the shape of your cornea. This improves the way light rays are focused on the retina. PRK is used to treat myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism.
The goal of photorefractive keratectomy is to correct your refractive error to improve your vision. PRK may reduce your need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. In some cases, it may even allow you to do without them completely.
Should I Get PRK?
If you have dry eyes or thin corneas and want to have refractive surgery, PRK may be a good choice for you. This is because some other types of refractive surgery, such as LASIK, are not recommended if you have these conditions.
Also, if you have a very active lifestyle or job, PRK may be a better option for you than LASIK or similar procedures. This is because PRK does not involve cutting a flap in your cornea like LASIK and similar surgeries do. If you are highly active, you could accidentally dislodge a corneal flap, causing problems.
Some people who have certain lenses put in their eyes during cataract surgery may have PRK to fine-tune their vision.
To have PRK, you need to meet certain requirements:
- You should be 18 years or older (ideally, over 21 years old, when vision is more likely to have stopped changing).
- Your eye prescription should not have changed in the last year.
- Your refractive error must be one that can be treated with PRK.
- Your corneas need to be healthy, and your overall eye health must be generally good.
- You need to have realistic expectations about what PRK can and cannot do for you.
Some people are not candidates for PRK. They include people with:
- an unstable (changing) refractive error
- skin or other disease that can affect healing
- a history of a lot of scarring
- corneal scars or disease
- advanced glaucoma
- a cataract affecting vision
- uncontrolled diabetes
- pregnant or nursing women
- history of certain eye infections
Your ophthalmologist can talk with you about other conditions that may keep you from having PRK.
To determine whether you are a candidate for PRK, your ophthalmologist will examine your eyes. Here’s what will be done:
- The overall health of your eyes will be checked.
- Measurements of your cornea will be taken.
- Your refractive error will be measured.
What Happens During Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
Before PRK Surgery
You and your ophthalmologist will discuss your vision needs based on your lifestyle. For example, if you play sports, you may be seeking clear distance vision from surgery.
Also, you and your ophthalmologist should discuss your expectations for PRK. People who have PRK to achieve perfect vision without glasses or contacts run the risk of being disappointed. PRK allows people to do most of their everyday tasks without corrective lenses. However, you might need to wear glasses for certain activities, such as reading or driving at night.
Your ophthalmologist will thoroughly examine your eyes and make sure you are a candidate for PRK. Here is what they will do:
- Test your vision. This is to make sure that your vision has not changed. It also shows how high your refractive error is and whether PRK can be used to correct your vision.
- Check for other eye problems. Your ophthalmologist will make sure that you do not have eye problems. This is because other problems could affect your surgery, or PRK could make those other problems worse.
- Measure and map the surface of your cornea. Your ophthalmologist will check the thickness of your cornea and make precise measurements of the cornea’s surface. Your eye surgeon uses these measurements to program the computer-based laser used during surgery.
During Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
PRK is usually done in an outpatient surgery center. The procedure usually takes about 15 minutes. Here is what to expect:
- Your eye will be numbed with eye drops.
- Your eye surgeon will place an eyelid holder on your eye to keep you from blinking.
- Then your ophthalmologist will remove the outer layer of cells on your cornea, called the epithelium. To do this, he or she may use a special brush, blade, laser or alcohol solution.
- You will be asked to stare at a target light so that your eyes will not move. The ophthalmologist then reshapes your cornea using a laser. The laser is a special instrument that has been programmed with measurements for your eye. While your ophthalmologist is using the laser, you will hear a clicking sound.
Call us today to book your appointment for PRK
7310-74-74-74
Move beyond Spectacles and Contact lenses and begin your healing journey with Visioncare Super Speciality Eye Hospital EVO Visian ICL treatments. You can visit our hospital to get free Counseling.
We will explain PRK options for you in more detail.
At Visioncare SSEH we make sure that your health is a top priority. Our surgeons especially Visioncare SSEH Director Dr. Shakeel Ahmad with over 18 years of surgical experience also ensure that at every step of the surgery, the patients are taken good care of, and they have all the answers to their questions. We have some of the best cataract surgeons in Western Uttar Pradesh who have numerous years of experience and have been working with us for a very long time.
