How is Excimer PRK surgery performed?
As with incisional refractive surgical procedures, the first step for a prospective candidate is a comprehensive eye evaluation including a careful measurement of myopia and corneal topographic analysis( See Incisional Procedures). The patient is placed beneath the laser delivery system and a brief training session given in which the individual learns to fixate upon a light during the PRK procedure and the laser is briefly activated to acquaint the patient with the sound and sensation of the treatment. The eye is anesthetized with topical drops which render the procedure completely painless. Once good alignment and training have been accomplished the operating surgeon will mark and central 7.00 mm zone upon the corneal surface and will manually remove the superficial corneal cells(epithelium) with a blunt polishing instrument. The laser is programmed and delivers the precise number of pulses required to achieve the amount of corneal flattening desired in 30 to 60 seconds . In many inst
