Patient Procedures at Empire Eye Physicians

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) is one of the most common types of Refractive Surgery

Photorefractive Keratectomy surgery was the first type of laser eye surgery for vision correction – treating nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Although PRK recovery time takes a bit longer than the recovery for LASIK, PRK is still commonly performed and offers advantages over LASIK for some patients.

Like LASIK, PRK works by reshaping the cornea using an excimer laser, the main difference is the first step of the procedure. With PRK, the thin outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) is removed and discarded, prior to reshaping the underlying corneal tissue with the excimer laser. The epithelium repairs itself by growing back over the corneal surface within a few days after surgery. The procedure typically takes about 20 minutes.

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Procedure Benefits

  • PRK can accurately correct nearsightedness
  • Results come quickly
  • Your vision will be greatly improved
  • You can live life without glasses or contacts

What To Expect

Procedures are done at our surgery center on an outpatient basis. The procedures themselves are only 20-30 minutes, however, you will be at the surgery center for up to 2 hours. We require surgical patients to have a designated friend or family member drive you to and from the surgery center, as well as to care for you the remainder of the day. You will have a post-operative appointment the next day for a follow-up visit and a driver to this visit is recommended.

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