Dreaming of life without glasses or contact lenses? If yes, PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) eye surgery could be your path to clearer vision and improving your quality of life. As one of the earliest types of laser vision correction, PRK helps reshape the cornea to improve how light enters the eye. But is it the right choice for you?
In this guide, we’ll explore how PRK eye surgery works, its benefits, and what to consider before making your decision.
What is Photorefractive Keratectomy?
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a type of laser eye surgery that can help people with near-sightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. In this, a laser is used to change the shape of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye, so that light can enter and focus better inside the retina of the eye. It allows you to see clearly and better perceive the world.
What Can PRK Treat?
PRK treatment is the best way to fix several different types of refractive errors. These happen when the light doesn’t bend in your eye properly, making it hard to see clearly. With exact laser adjustments, PRK improves vision and lessens the need for glasses or lenses.
PRK can treat:
- Near-sightedness (Myopia) – Helps you focus on things that are far away.
- Farsightedness (Hyperopia) – Helps you focus on things close by.
- Astigmatism – Fixes corneal curve that isn’t even.
- Presbyopia (sometimes) – Offers monovision repair where one eye focuses on near vision and the other is adjusted for distance vision in this disorder caused by aging.
What Happens During a PRK Procedure?
As an outpatient treatment, PRK is quick and usually takes 10–15 minutes to finish. It’s done under local anaesthesia using eye drops. For PRK, you don’t need to make a corneal opening like done in LASIK.
During the PRK procedure:
- The outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) is gently removed.
- A laser is used to reshape the underlying corneal tissue.
- The patient focuses on a target light for precise laser guidance.
- A soft, bandage contact lens is placed to protect the eye while it heals.
- Medicated eye drops are applied to prevent infection and reduce inflammation
What are the Benefits of PRK Eye Surgery?
PRK has many benefits, especially for people with thin corneas. It can give good results and is safe, proving to be a good alternative to LASIK.
Some of the benefits of PRK eye surgery are:
- No Corneal Flap: Ideal for people whose corneas are thin or have an irregular shape.
- Reduces Dry Eye Risk: Less damage to the nerves in the eye than LASIK.
- Long-term Effectiveness: The results are effective for a long time.
- Lower Risk of Complications: Especially for sports or people in the military.
- Customisable Correction: Laser adjustments are made specifically for each eye to improve results.
As part of the PRK eye surgery recovery timeline, the patient’s vision improves slowly over weeks as he is monitored closely.
Read More: Ultimate Guide for LASIK Surgery for Perfect Vision
What are the Risks or Complications of This Procedure?
Though PRK laser eye surgery is usually safe, it can cause some problems while the eye heals. Knowing these can help you manage your goals and ensure a smoother recovery.
Some possible PRK eye surgery side effects are:
- Halos or Glare: Especially at night when the wounds are still healing.
- Corneal Haze: Mild clouding that usually clears up with time.
- Infection Risk: Minimised with prescribed antibiotic drops.
- Temporary Discomfort: Some people may feel pain after PRK eye surgery for a few days during the initial healing process.
- Longer Recovery: It usually takes a few weeks to heal—prk eye surgery recovery time tends to be longer.
Conclusion
PRK eye surgery is a good option for people who want to improve their vision without glasses or contact lenses. The healing process might take a bit longer but the treatment is safe and suitable for people with certain eye conditions. After careful examination of your eyes, professionals perform this procedure. Knowing how long it takes to heal from PRK eye surgery and following the instructions for aftercare can help you get the best results.
Frequently Asked Questions Related to PRK Eye Surgery
What is PRK eye surgery?
Photorefractive keratectomy or PRK, is a type of laser surgery that changes the shape of the cornea to improve eyesight.
How much does PRK eye surgery cost in India?
The cost of PRK surgery in India can vary based on the hospitals and healthcare professionals you choose.
What is the difference between PRK and LASIK eye surgery?
PRK takes off the top layer of the eye, while LASIK makes a flap. With PRK, your healing may take a little longer than LASIK.
What to expect after PRK eye surgery?
You can expect blurry vision and pain for a few days, then slowly getting better over the next one to four weeks.
