The Benefits of PRK Eye Surgery

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) precedes LASIK surgery. However, many centers still offer the procedure as an alternative to LASIK mainly due to the fact that PRK eye surgery does not invade the cornea by making an incision into the outer layer, as in LASIK.

However, just as there are LASIK eligibility exams, there are also prerequisite eye exams in PRK. Doctors will inquire into the medical history of a patient to discover any allergies or possibilities for complication. Lifestyle and expectations will also be discussed at this stage.

Also, a stable prescription is also required for at least one year.

PRK eye surgery requires that a patient undergo the following:

• Corneal thickness


• Corneal topography


• Dilation exam


• Refractive error measurement


• Pupil measurements


• Tear function analysis

A doctor will require that contact lenses not be used a certain period prior to the PRK eye surgery exam to ensure that refractive measurements are taken correctly. Generally, the requirements for non-use are:

• Soft contact lenses = 1 week prior to the eye exam


• Hard contact lenses = 2 to 3 weeks prior to the eye exam

PRK involves a longer recovery period compared to LASIK. It also involves a greater degree of discomfort.

Some surgeons and patients agree on PRK due to there being less of a risk that the inner eye pressure will push out against the thinner corneal wall (as in LASIK), causing it to bulge and contributing to ectasia or deteriorating vision over time.

Patients wary about the prospect of a metal blade creating an incision on their eye, which is the riskiest procedure in LASIK surgery, consider PRK as a better alternative.

LASEK
There are two laser eye surgery variations under PRK, one of them is LASEK (Laser Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis).

Rather than the epithelial scraping involved in standard PRK, LASEK uses alcohol to soften the epithelium, the surface of the cornea, and remove it.

LASEK's advantage over regular PRK is the faster healing time that more closely approximates recovery from LASIK – although LASEK still avoids using a microkeratome blade to create a corneal flap (as in LASIK).

Epi-LASEK
This second type of modification on PRK uses a separator to lift the epithelium, while the laser reshapes the cornea.

Epi-LASEK reduces discomfort even more and speeds up recovery even faster than LASEK. This procedure is preferred by many who opt for PRK because, more than any other procedure, it approximates the convenience of LASIK surgery the most.

Discomfort and slight pain after PRK eye surgery is sometimes relieved by medication. However, post-op symptoms of blurry or hazy vision are normally allowed disappear naturally with no other treatment apart from regular eye drops prescribed by the doctor.

Patients who have previously undergone LASIK are sometimes advised to undergo PRK for further treatment, since PRK is less invasive.