Lifetime cost of visual aids:
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PRK
PRK Surgery
PERSONALIZED, TOP QUALITY EYE CARE IN QUEENS
PRK surgery has helped millions of people see the world more clearly since it was approved by the FDA in 1995, and is still a popular vision correction option for our patients from Queens, Long Island, and throughout the NYC area.
What is PRK?
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is a laser vision correction procedure that reshapes the cornea to correct refractive errors.
To produce the images we see, light passes through the cornea and the lens of the eye and is then focused (refracted) onto the retina. Imperfections in the shape of the cornea can cause light to be focused improperly onto the retina, resulting in refractive errors such as:
- Myopia (nearsightedness)
- Hyperopia (farsightedness)
- Astigmatism
During PRK, minute changes are made to the shape of the cornea to help a patient achieve clearer vision. In many cases this allows patients to reduce or even eliminate their dependence on eyeglasses or
Trusted Source
What is Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)?
American Academy of Ophthalmology
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contact lenses.
Who is a Candidate for PRK?
The best way to determine whether PRK is right for you is to consult with a board-certified ophthalmologist. In general, a good candidate for PRK:
- Is over the age of 18
- Has healthy eyes and corneas
- Has a stable vision prescription, with no changes in the last year
- Has realistic expectations about what can be achieved through laser vision correction surgery
Patients with the following conditions may not be good candidates for PRK:
- Unstable vision prescription
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Advanced glaucoma
- Corneal scarring or abrasions
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Eye infections
- Dry eye
- Certain allergies or skin conditions
LASIK vs PRK
Both LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) and PRK are eye surgeries that are performed to correct refractive eye errors by reshaping the cornea. Both of these laser eye surgery procedures are performed on an outpatient basis in about 15 minutes, and both are considered to be safe and effective.
Trusted Source
A Comparison of Visual Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction Between Photorefractive Keratectomy and Femtosecond Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis
Hashmani N, Hashmani S, Ramesh P, Rajani H, Ahmed J, Kumar J, Kumar A, Jamali M
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Studies
show that LASIK and PRK have comparable visual outcomes and comparable patient satisfaction rates.
The difference between PRK and LASIK is the way the ophthalmologist accesses the cornea before reshaping it.
During LASIK eye surgery, the eye surgeon creates a flap out of the outer layer of the cornea, called the epithelium. The cornea is then reshaped using a laser and the flap is put back into place after the procedure is completed. During the recovery period, the corneal flap seals itself.
In the first step of the
Trusted Source
What is photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) eye surgery?
Cleveland Clinic
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PRK procedure,
the eye surgeon removes the entire corneal epithelium before using a laser to reshape the cornea. After PRK, the epithelium regrows over time. Because of this, the recovery period is longer after PRK vs LASIK and patients will have to wait a bit longer to see the full extent of their vision correction.
Ever wonder how much bad vision is actually costing you?
Starting age:
18
Number of years between purchasing new glasses:
0
Average cost of prescription glasses and lenses:
$0
Boxes of contacts purchased in a year:
0
Cost of a box of contact lenses:
$0
Why Choose Focus Eye Care for PRK?
Choosing Focus Eye Care for your PRK procedure means entrusting your vision to Dr. Neelofar Ghaznawi, a board-certified ophthalmologist and cornea specialist with extensive experience in corneal surgeries. Dr. Ghaznawi’s dedication to personalized patient care ensures that each treatment plan is tailored to meet individual needs, maximizing outcomes. With her affiliation with prestigious organizations such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology and her role as an assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai, Dr. Ghaznawi remains at the forefront of ophthalmic advancements, providing patients with cutting-edge care.
Preparing for PRK Surgery
Preparing for PRK eye surgery begins with a consultation with an experienced ophthalmologist. During this appointment, you will undergo an eye exam, and vision test, and your eye doctor will review your medical history. You will learn more about the PRK procedure and have the opportunity to ask questions until you feel confident that this is the right vision correction surgery option for you.
Please note: if you wear contact lenses, you will need to remove them for a period of time before your PRK consultation:
- Soft Contact Lenses: Remove 1 week before the exam
- Hard/Gas Permeable Contact Lenses: Remove 2 weeks before the exam
Once your procedure is scheduled, you will receive detailed preparation instructions. You will be asked to eat a light meal, arrive at our eye care center in comfortable clothes and without any makeup or accessories. You will also need to make arrangements for transportation, as you will not be permitted to drive yourself home from our eye center after PRK surgery.
The PRK Procedure
PRK is an outpatient procedure that takes only 10-15 minutes per eye, though you should expect to be at our surgery center for a couple of hours on the day of your surgery.
Before the procedure begins, your eyes will be numbed using anesthetic eye drops. A device will be applied to hold your eyes open so you won’t need to worry about blinking, and you will be asked to focus on a light.
During PRK, the eye surgeon removes the outer layer of the cornea (corneal epithelium) before reshaping the cornea with an excimer laser. At the end of the procedure, the surgeon administers nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops, antibiotic drops, and steroid drops.
You will recover briefly at our surgery center before being released to continue your recovery at home.
PRK Recovery & Follow-Up
Following PRK, you can expect to experience tearing, dry eyes, light sensitivity, and moderately blurred vision for the first few days. You may also feel some mild discomfort, burning, and itching. Your doctor will recommend lubricating eye drops to help you stay comfortable, and you will also need to use prescribed eye drops to assist with healing and prevent infection.
For the first 3-4 days of your PRK recovery period, you will need to wear a clear bandage contact lens, which will reduce irritation and protect your cornea as the epithelial layer grows back.
Your vision will appear blurry for the first few days after your PRK procedure, but will improve as your corneas heal. You should notice a dramatic improvement in your vision within a few days, and your vision correction will stabilize within 3-6 months. After PRK, your ophthalmologist will advise wearing sunglasses while going outside as sun exposure can lead to corneal scarring after surgery, causing vision problems.
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Frequently Asked Questions About PRK
PRK is considered to be a safe vision correction surgery procedure, especially when performed by an experienced and board-certified ophthalmologist. However, there are risks and side effects to any surgical procedure. Risks of PRK may include:
- Glare and halos around lights, particularly at night
- Corneal scarring
- Corneal haze/ cloudiness of the cornea
- Corneal infection
- Light sensitivity
- Regression, which means treatment becomes less effective over time
- Delayed healing
- Under or over-correction of
Trusted Source
Main Complications of Photorefractive Keratectomy and their Management
Spadea L, Giovannetti F
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refractive errors
During PRK, the corneal tissue is permanently reshaped to correct a patient’s existing refractive errors, such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and/or astigmatism. However, PRK does not prevent future, age-related changes to the eye. As we reach our mid-40s, the lens of the eye becomes more rigid and less able to focus on objects up close. This age-related near vision loss, or presbyopia, cannot be prevented by PRK. Patients who develop presbyopia and who do not wish to wear reading glasses may require another procedure. PRK will also not prevent the development of cataracts, which may necessitate cataract surgery in the future.
Before your PRK surgery, your eyes will be numbed with anesthetic eye drops. You may feel some pressure during the procedure, but you will not feel pain. You may also experience some discomfort during the PRK recovery period, but again, you should not feel pain.
PRK is performed as an elective refractive surgery procedure, which means that it is rarely covered by our patients’ insurance plans. We will be happy to help you learn more about payment and financing options to help bring the cost of PRK into your budget.
Contact Us
Ready to learn more about how PRK can help our patients reduce or even eliminate their need for eyeglasses or contacts? Contact us to schedule your vision correction consultation at Focus Eye Care & Surgery, where we help patients from Queens, Long Island, and throughout the NYC area see a brighter future.
The doctors at Focus Eye Care & Surgery have reviewed and approved this content.
Page Updated:
1 American Academy of Ophthalmology. What is Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)?. Available: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/photorefractive-keratectomy-prk. Accessed May 6, 2024.
2 Hashmani N, Hashmani S, Ramesh P, Rajani H, Ahmed J, Kumar J, Kumar A, Jamali M. A Comparison of Visual Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction Between Photorefractive Keratectomy and Femtosecond Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. Cureus. 2017 Sep 1;9(9):e1641. doi: 10.7759/cureus.1641. PMID: 29119072; PMCID: PMC5665689. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29119072/. Accessed May 6, 2024.
3 Cleveland Clinic. What is photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) eye surgery? Available: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/8596-photorefractive-keratectomy-prk-eye-surgery. Accessed May 6, 2024.
4 Spadea L, Giovannetti F. Main Complications of Photorefractive Keratectomy and their Management. Clin Ophthalmol. 2019;13:2305-2315. Published 2019 Nov 27. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S233125. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6885542/. Accessed May 6, 2024.