PRK - Introduction

The eye unites perception and aesthetics like no other organ. And yet, more often than with any other sensory organ, the functionality of the eye is impaired. Sight deficiencies can indeed be compensated for through the wearing of contact lenses or glasses, but many of those affected find visual aids to be hindrances in daily life and sports activities. In the long run, the optical aspect plays an increasingly larger role: glasses lead to a change in one's facial image, which is often not accepted.

PRK is the abbreviation for photoablative refractive keratectomy. Among other associations, the German Professional Association of Opthamologists (BVA) have determined that PRK is safe and reliable for the correction of sight deficiencies of up to -6 diopters. Typically, results are achieved which vary from normal sightedness by only +/- 0.5 diopters. This allows one to almost completely forego the use of additional visual aids such as glasses or contact lenses.¹ These methods are not only safe, but also precise.
Further refractive surgical procedures such as LASIK, Femto LASIK, and LASEK all have their own unique aspects and are introduced in further detail on this website. The PRK method has been successfully applied to cases since the 1980s.

Because the human eye is not only exceedingly important, but also sensitive, various preliminary examinations conducted by a practicing doctor are recommended. Beginning at 7-14 days before the examination, one should refrain from using contact lenses if possible. The preliminary examinations themselves require about three to four hours. In addition to an examination of the corneal surface and measurement of intraocular pressure, there are a number of other examinations which are introduced later on in the article. You should work with the doctor who is treating you in developing a detailed plan of treatment.

The operation itself lasts only a couple of minutes. All in all, you should plan on four hours. During the operation, the epithelium (a renewable, protective layer which covers the cornea) is completely removed from the eye in order to provide better working access to the underlying corneal layers. The epithelium rebuilds itself after 2-3 days. The underlying corneal layers are then worked on carefully using an excimer laser in order to guarantee precise light reception on the retina. During the entire operation, the patient generally feels no pain.

It is highly advantageous to have someone accompany you at the conclusion of the operation, because the eyes must be held shut for 3-5 hours after the operation is done. This promotes the healing process. At the end of the operation, however, pain may be present for a few days because the epithelial layer must rebuild itself anew. To counteract the risk of infection, antibiotic eye drops are applied and an eye bandage may need to be worn. Additionally, it is also recommended that you avoid strong winds and direct sunlight in the first days after the operation. Swimming and other sports should first be resumed after a few weeks.

Aftercare examinations by an eye specialist are self-explanatory and contribute to very good treatment results. They minimise the already low risk of problems during or after treatment. These risks are explained in-depth near the end of the article.