What is PRK?
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is an outpatient procedure performed with topical anesthetic. The visual results are similar to LASIK, the main difference between PRK and LASIK is that in PRK there is no flap — only the very top layer of the cornea is removed before the surgeon reshapes the cornea with the excimer laser.
There are several reasons why a surgeon would recommend PRK rather than LASIK for an individual patient:
- No concern about potential flap complications
- If the patient’s corneas are too thin to meet LASIK standards
- If the patient had LASIK previously
- If the patient has dry eyes