PRK

Since it was first developed in 1987, over 500,000 PRK procedures have been performed. Photorefractive Keratectomy is a procedure, in which the excimer laser is used to vaporize a very superficial layer of the cornea, resulting in a flatter curvature. The thickness of the tissue removed is less than that of a human hair.

Since the outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) has been removed, a clear soft contact lens is placed over the eye after the procedure to protect it until the epithelium regenerates, which takes an average of three days. During this time, the vision is blurry, and the eye is irritated and scratchy. Once the epithelium has healed, the vision is clearer, but some fluctuation may persist for weeks after the procedure.