PRK

Dr Au offers PRK exclusively at Eye Laser Specialists clinic only

Book a free consultation with our optometrists to see if you can benefit or

What is PRK?

Photorefractive keratectomy (more commonly known as just PRK) is the more traditional laser refractive surgery used to treat the following:

Short-sightedness (myopia)
Long-sightedness (hyperopia)
Astigmatism

It serves an alternative to LASIK or SMILE, especially in cases where the cornea is too thin for correction by more these modern techniques.

PRK is performed using excimer laser, we utilize the Zeiss MEL®90 at Eye Laser Specialists

How is PRK Eye Surgery performed?

This is how laser eye treatment PRK is performed, and the points to note:

It is performed as an outpatient procedure.
You will be awake during the surgery and no sedation is necessary.
The surgery is generally a comfortable experience with minimal pain.
The eye is first numbed with anaesthetic eyedrops.
The epithelium (“skin”) of the cornea is removed over the treatment area with a brush or dilute alcohol.
A specialized laser, the excimer laser is then used to re-shape the cornea to correct the refractive error. This process causes the centre of the cornea to flatten in the case of short- sightedness, steepen in the case of far-sightedness or become more rounded in the case of astigmatism, changing the focusing power of the cornea and improving your vision.
Following excimer laser treatment, in most cases, a special chemical called mitomycin C that reduces cornea haze or scarring is applied to the cornea.
At the end of the procedure, a bandage contact lens is placed in the eye and this is kept for approximately 5 – 10 days to allow for the new epithelium (“skin”) to heal over.

What to Expect after the PRK Eye Surgery?

Generally, visual recovery after PRK is slower than after LASIK or SMILE. Discomfort or pain is usually more intense and prolonged. When the effect of the anaesthetic eyedrops wears off, most patients will experience pain, tearing, burning sensation, scratchiness and / or difficulty opening their eyes, the severity of which varies from patient to patient. These symptoms usually last for 2-3 days. You will be prescribed antibiotic and steroid eyedrops as well as artificial tears to keep the eyes moist, and painkillers to cope with the pain after surgery the first few days.

Although the visual recovery from PRK is slightly slower than that of LASIK and SMILE, the long-term outcomes are the same. PRK is also a very rewarding procedure for the patient and the surgeon!

What Side Effects, Risks and Complications Should I be Aware of?

PRK eye surgery has side effects that you need to be aware of. Fortunately, PRK is very safe and most of the side effects are mild and temporary. These include pain after surgery (as described above), redness, dry eye, haze or fine scarring of the cornea, fluctuating vision, haloes, glare, starbursts and light sensitivity. Over- or under-correction may occur, and additional surgery may be required in some cases. The serious side-effects that can result in permanent loss of vision e.g., infection, are fortunately rare. Weakening of the cornea (keratectasia) after PRK is also very rare.

Depending on the individual’s healing response towards the excimer laser, the cornea may show variable degrees of scarring or haze which can affect quality of vision. This is usually more frequently seen with higher degrees of correction. In most cases, this haze is treatable with topical steroids and does not usually affect the final quality of vision.