Photoreactive keratectomy

At Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, you get expert eye care. Our ophthalmologists have the skills and experience to provide several types of corrective surgeries, including photoreactive keratectomy.

What is photoreactive keratectomy?

Photoreactive keratectomy (PRK) was the first-ever laser eye surgery approved to correct vision. Doctors still use PRK to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Like LASIK, PRK uses a laser to gently reshape the surface of your eye and provide clearer vision.

What is the difference between PRK and LASIK?

In LASIK, your surgeon uses a laser to create a thin flap in your cornea. They lift this flap to treat the underlying tissue with a second laser. Then they reposition the flap into its original place.

PRK involves no flap. Instead, your surgeon removes and discards a thin outer layer of your cornea. Because there’s no flap, there’s no risk of flap complications. PRK is also an option for patients who can’t have LASIK because their cornea is too thin or they have significant dry eye.

How does photoreactive keratectomy work?

In PRK, your surgeon removes your cornea’s thin top layer. Then they use a laser to reshape your underlying tissue.

After reshaping the tissue, your surgeon places a contact lens over your eye to promote healing and provide comfort. You don’t have to take any special steps to maintain the lens during recovery. Your surgeon typically removes the lens in about three to six days.

Recovering your full vision takes a bit longer. The timeline can range from days to weeks. PRK recovery is longer than LASIK; however, the visual results are typically similar.

Conditions photoreactive keratectomy treats

PRK may treat:

• Astigmatism, an imperfect curvature to your eye
• Farsightedness (hyperopia)
• Nearsightedness (myopia)

Photoreactive keratectomy side effects

It’s common to have mild to moderate side effects while healing from PRK, including:

• Blurred vision
• Discomfort or slight pain
• Dry eye
• Gritty feeling in your eye
• Halos or glares around lights
• Sensitivity to light

Rarely, some people experience long-term, more severe complications, such as prolonged dry eye, infection or scarring on the cornea.