PRK eye laser treatment
Photoablative refraktive keratectomy
PRK is the oldest laser treatment method which is performed on a routine basis. Similar to the Femto LASIK method, the excimer laser directly processes the cornea in the PRK method. The difference to Femto LASIK is however that no corneal flap is created in this case, but that the epithelial layer is completely removed in the treated area. The removed layer will regenerate within a few days.
Advantages of your eye surgery with the PRK method:
- Extremely safe
- Relatively low-price
- Many years of experience due to numerous operations worldwide
Disadvantages of a PRK laser treatment
- Longer healing process
- Dryness of the eyes
To achieve a sustainable improvement of the results, the healing process can be optionally improved with LASIK Xtra.
PRK eye laser treatment (photoablative refractive keratectomy)
PRK (photorefactive keratectomy) is a procedure which is used for example when the cornea is too thin for a LASIK operation.
Procedure of the PRK eye surgery
For the PRK procedure, the uppermost layer of the cornea, i.e. the so-called epithelium (a 5-layer cell layer) is detached and pushed aside.
The cornea is then treated with an excimer laser and modelled until the required correction level is reached.
After the excimer laser treatment, the eye is protected with a bandage contact lens.
PRK eye laser treatment
In general, both eyes are operated on the same day. Compared to LASIK, the healing process is a bit longer and can take up to one week. During this period, you should not plan to work and not drive a car, until you have regained your full eyesight. Normally, however, no pain should occur.
When can I except my eyesight to improve following PRK treatment?
80 % of your eyesight can return after only a few days; the full restoration of your eyesight without glasses or contact lenses will normally occur after a few weeks.
For whom is PRK eye laser treatment recommended?
PRK is especially recommendable for patients for whom a LASIK treatment is not possible due to a too thin cornea.