Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)

1. You’ll arrive at our office (with a driver) at least 10 15 minutes before your appointment time. We will review the consent form and have you sign it electronically.
   We’ll also place a sticky dot above the eye or eyes being treated, which we’ll use for reference during the procedure.
2. In preparation for your surgery, we will administer optional pre-operative medication, such as Valium, giving you time to relax in the waiting area.
3. When it’s time for the procedure to begin, you will enter the laser suite and lie down on a comfortable bed. Next, we will place anesthetic drops in your eye or eyes. Then we will clean the area around the operative eye to ensure sterility.
4. The non-operative eye is covered to help you keep it still during the procedure. We will use a small device to keep your eyelids open, which  elps you to avoid blinking during the procedure.
5. The doctor will then instruct you to look at the green blinking light as she uses a tiny electric brush in a sweeping motion to gently massage the outer layer of skin cells on your cornea away to expose the area that is to be treated.
6. Then the laser, which has been programmed with specific measurements for your eye, reshapes your cornea. There may be times during the procedure when your vision may temporarily go dark, or blurry or clear. This is quite normal, and we will make sure you feel informed about changes in your vision every step of the way. It’s possible that you may experience a burning smell as the laser is reshaping the cornea.
7. Next, the doctor will place a bandage contact lens on the operative eye and post operative antibiotics and steroidal drops will also be administered. You can now sit up. You’ll be taken back to a post operative exam room and be examined with a microscope by the doctor.
8. You will be given post operative instructions for that evening and eye protecting shields that you will be wearing at night for the next seven nights.
9. You’re ready to head home, with your driver at the wheel. It’s best to rest and keep your eyes closed as much as possible for the first 12 hours, being careful not to rub or touch your eyes for 24 hours.
10. The next day, you’ll have a follow-up appointment,  as well as additional required postoperative visits to ensure that the healing process is going well. Usually, there is postoperative discomfort with PRK. You will experience dryness, extreme light sensitivity, tearing, and scratchiness. It’s normal for these symptoms to increase in intensity on the second and third day. Your surgeon may suggest that you take a couple of days off work. You should avoid strenuous activity for about a week.
11. You will have post operative eye drops to take 4 times a day for the next seven days or longer depending on what your doctor instructs you to do.

Initially, you may notice some fluctuations in your vision. Some days your vision might be a bit fuzzy, while other days it will be clear. Although the fuzziness won’t prevent you from driving, it will be noticeable. As you heal your vision will improve. It may take up to six to eight weeks to achieve your best results. About 90% of pat ents end up with 20/40 vision or better without contact lenses or glasses.

We do everything we can to make PRK affordable. We offer:

• Affordable payment options with no initial payment and 0% interest with approved credit
• No prepayment penalty
• Financing through Care Credit with low, fixed rates