Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

A refractive surgical procedure that employs a computer controlled excimer laser system to sculpt, by ablation of the central corneal zone, or visual axis. This procedure corrects mild to moderate cases of nearsightedness. Patients who are not candidates for LASIK may be candidates for PRK as less corneal tissue is removed during the treatment. With PRK, the visual recovery is slower and there may be more (initial) post-operative discomfort than that of LASIK. Also, the incidence of post-operative ocular dryness is reduced with PRK, making this an excellent procedure for those patients who suffer from dry eye syndrome.

Custom Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

Custom PRK is a procedure that enables your laser vision correction surgeon to further customize the conventional PRK procedure to your individual eyes. Custom PRK provides an additional level of data about your vision requirements using wavefront technology. A device called a wavefront analyzer measures the way light travels through your eye and compares it to an eye with perfect vision. This device then creates a 3-D wavefront map that is uniquely yours, in the same way that your “fingerprint” is unique to only you. This additional data is then used by your surgeon to customize the PRK laser vision correction procedure to your individual vision requirements.

The actual PRK procedure process is performed the same way in both conventional PRK and Custom PRK. Conventional PRK is an excellent choice for many patients.

Your doctor will recommend which procedure is best for you based on your visual requirement; they will help you to determine if you could benefit from the higher level of customization that Custom PRK may provide.