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PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) Cost & Profile
- Avg. Cost: $1800
- Candidate: Nearsightedness
- Length: Few minutes
- Treatments: One
- Results: Long lasting
- Back to work: 3-5 days
Common Questions & Answers about PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)
"Has anyone heard of LASEK? I had this procedure done March of this year. I was wearing -7's (contacts) in both my eyes and standard LASIK was not a good option for me. I had very thin corneas. Dr. Yee of Herman Eye Center is performing LASEK on patients with thin corneas and it is virtually painless - at least in my case. He makes a flap out of your epithelium which is a lot safer and painless like I said. Even his patients that are candidates for standard LASIK are choosing to do LASEK because of the low risk of injury to your corneal tisssue. He is currently co-authoring with other doctors over seas about this procedure and to my knowledge is the only doctor in Houston and possibly the US performing this procedure. I am six months out and seeing 20/15. It is wonderful."
Latest PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) Doctors
 | PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) Newark, Ohio Shahin Shahinfar, MD |
 | PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) Anderson, South Carolina John Wilmeth, M.D. |
 | PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) Ontario, California Laser Eye Center, |
| PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) Newport Beach, California Laser Eye Center, |
| PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) Thousand Oaks, California Laser Eye Center, |
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PRK Basics
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What is PRK?
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is a refractive eye surgery that uses a laser to correct mild to moderate nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. PRK has some similarities to LASIK, but can offer vision correction to patients with a flat or steep cornea that are not good candidates for LASIK.
How It's Done
During PRK, your doctor will use an excimer laser to remove corneal tissue and reshape the eye. Unlike its predecessor, RK (radial keratotomy), which uses a scalpel to cut the cornea, laser technology allows ophthalmologists to sculpt the eye. PRK is performed on the top of the cornea, reducing its thickness by 5-30%, depending on the severity of refractive error.
During the pre-operative exam your doctor will map out the amount of correction that is right for your vision problems, and will give you pre-surgery instructions such as not wearing contact lenses for a specified period of time before surgery, allowing your cornea to return to its original shape. The day of surgery, a local anesthetic will be administered, and PRK will be performed to the pre-determined specifications. There is usually no pain experienced during surgery, and the procedure takes only a few minutes to perform.
Technology
There are many different lasers available for use in PRK, however, machines manufactured by VISX account for about 60% of all procedures. Machines differ in the amount of refractive error for which they have been FDA approved to correct. Make sure to ask your doctor any specific questions you have about the particular machine that will be used.
Recovery / Post Op Expectations
After the surgery your doctor will apply a protective lens, similar to a contact, that is worn for 3-5 days following surgery. Within the same time frame, you should be able to return to every day activities, although complete healing can take up to three months. Strenuous activity, swimming, and contact sports should be limited until full healing is achieved. Though not everyone achieves 20/20 vision after surgery, about 95% of people will no longer need glasses for everyday use.
Complications
The most troubling complication is infection, which can be treated with antibiotic, but is usually painful. Other complications include the development of astigmatism, haziness, scarring, and over or under correction.
Am I A Candidate?
PRK cannot treat patients with severe vision problems, and is not approved for anyone under the age of 18. Additionally, patients must have stable eyesight for at least one year prior to surgery. For patients who meet these qualifications, PRK is a viable option, especially for those with thin or odd shaped corneas, which make other procedures like LASIK unavailable.
Cost
The cost for PRK is similar to that of other laser eye surgeries, about $1,800.
By LocateADoc.com Medical Staff Writers
Our writers strive to present an objective, upfront and open view of the medical procedures you're interested in. We present you with both the good and bad, and work to represent both doctors' and patients' points of view. Our articles contain facts and statistics obtained from medical associations, medical and surgical journals, and through doctor and patient interviews.
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