PRK Corrects Astigmatism, Nearsightedness and Farsightedness

PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, is an alternative to LASIK eye surgery we perform in our Las Vegas offices.

Photorefractive keratectomy is a laser type of eye surgery that is used for correcting mild to moderate astigmatism, nearsightedness or farsightedness.

During any type of laser eye surgery, the ophthalmologist reshapes the cornea, which is the front part of your eye, in order to make the light travel properly onto the retina, which is located at the back of your eye. While there are a number of different surgical techniques that can be used to reshape your cornea, during the PRK procedure, the eye surgeon will use a laser to achieve the proper type of reshaping. The laser delivers a pulsing beam of cool ultraviolet light on the surface of your cornea, rather than underneath it, like in the LASIK procedure.

This procedure is highly effective for correcting a large number of nearsightedness cases. After the surgery, approximately 80 percent of patients will receive 20/20 vision, without the use of contacts or glasses; and 95 to 98 percent will have 20/40 vision or better.

PRK Procedure Specifics and Healing

The PRK procedure is completed under local anesthesia and will take up to 10 minutes to finish. Once the procedure is complete the surgeon will apply a bandage contact lens. This will be worn for approximately three to four days in order to allow the surface of the eye time to heal.

After the surgery you will have to visit your eye doctor several times within the first six months. The first visit will be the day directly after the surgery. Once the surface of your eye has fully healed, the bandage contact lens will be removed.

In the first few weeks after the PRK procedure you may notice that your vision fluctuates from blurry to clear, which means that you may have to wear glasses until your vision becomes stable. Your eyes will also be dry, although they may not feel that way. The eye doctor will provide you with a prescription eye drop that is crucial to use to avoid infection and ensure that your eyes are kept moist.

As time progresses, your vision will improve and allow you to be able to drive a car within two or three weeks following the surgery. However, you should keep in mind that optimum vision may take as long as six weeks to six months to be achieved following the PRK surgery.

Contact our Las Vegas clinic if you have any more questions, or if you would like to consult with an eye doctor about whether or not PRK is the right procedure for you.