PRK Laser Surgery
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) Laser Surgery
Our practice’s philosophy is to educate our patients while providing
the safest, most advanced medical and surgical eye care. We believe
that a thorough understanding of an existing medical condition allows
the patient to take a more active and knowledgeable role in making
informed decisions about their treatment options.
Providing proper informational tools and open communication between
the doctor and patient contributes to the overall healing process
and optimizes the potential for a more successful outcome.
What
is PRK? 
Laser
vision correction involves changing the shape of the central (6mm)
corneal surface area with excimer laser energy. The excimer laser
produces a powerfully focused beam of ultraviolet light in a series
of rapid pulses that remove small and precise amounts of corneal tissue
in correcting common refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness
and astigmatism.
The excimer laser energy does not penetrate into the eye and leaves
the internal eye structures undisturbed. The entire procedure takes
approximately 15-20 minutes with only about 40-60 seconds of actual
laser time. Local anesthetic drops are used to minimize discomfort.
Unlike
LASIK laser surgery, PRK does not involve creating a flap of corneal
tissue with a microkeratome before treating with the excimer energy.
LASIK offers a quicker healing time, but there is a greater chance
of infection and the potential for other flap-related complications.
As with
any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with both types
of laser vision correction that need to be discussed with your doctor
prior to treatment. A pre-surgical examination will be required to
determine if your eyes are healthy and suitable for the surgery. There
are specific surgical contraindications and refractive error limitations
that need to be considered in determining whether
or not you are a good candidate for the procedure.
It is important to remember that laser vision correction may only
reduce and not completely eliminate your dependency on glasses or
contact lenses, especially for patients over 45 years of age.
