How is PRK eye surgery performed?
Like LASIK eye surgery, PRK is designed to reshape the front clear dome, called cornea of the eye. The cornea is the layer of the eye that focuses light onto the retina. In patients who are far and near-sighted, the cornea does not focus the light perfectly onto the retina. Astigmatic patients often have a cornea that are slightly oblong instead of spherical, which also distorts the focus of light. In PRK eye surgery, an excimer laser is used to reshape and change the curvature of the cornea Depending on the type of correction needed, the laser either reduces the thickness of the cornea and/or changes the way it slopes in order to allow light to focus correctly on the retina. The laser can perform its function without destroying or harming any of the surrounding cells. After the surgery, doctors apply a protective contact lens to the eye. The lens allows the eyes to heal quickly. These lenses are normally removed about 3-5 days following the procedure.
