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Disclaimer

This website is only for basic information. It is not to be considered medical advice or a substitute for obtaining your own medical consultation, during which you will be informed also about possible risks, side effects and restrictions of refractive & cataract surgery. Not all treatment options are approved or offered in every country and approved labeling and instructions may vary from one country to another. This site is also not intended for patients and healthcare providers residing in the United States of America and Japan.

PRK treatment

The photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) procedure has been performed for many decades. First introduced in the late 1980s, PRK surgery is suitable for correcting nearsightedness and farsightedness with or without astigmatism. So, if you are thinking about PRK eye surgery, read on to find out what you should expect during the treatment.

The treatment explained in detail

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Woman standing indoors with a calm expression, representing patient preparation and confidence before PRK surgery.

Preparation for PRK treatment

Preparation for your PRK procedure starts a few weeks before your treatment date. Your doctor will advise you to stop wearing contact lenses four to two weeks before surgery (depending on the type of lenses you wear). You should not wear makeup, perfume, face creams or similar cosmetics the day before or on the day of your treatment. These products may leave debris around the eye, increasing the risk of post-op infections.

On the day of your PRK eye surgery, you will be treated as an outpatient, so you won’t have to stay overnight at your chosen clinic. A typical PRK procedure takes around 15 minutes per eye and involves the following steps:

Bearded man with neutral expression symbolizing clarity, focus, and confidence after PRK eye surgery.

PRK recovery process

Your surgeon may want to have you stay in the clinic or hospital for a little while as a precaution. Immediately after you have been discharged, your eyesight will not have recovered enough for you to drive, so you will need to arrange a lift home. In the first days after the PRK procedure, you should use the eye drops as prescribed by your doctor, avoid rubbing or touching your eye, and refrain from work to give your eyes time to heal.

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Frequently asked questions

  • Yes! Depending on your preference and your ophthalmic surgeon’s recommendation, the PRK procedure can be performed on one or both eyes in a single treatment.

  • While LASIK is one of the most popular laser eye surgeries available, it involves your surgeon creating a corneal flap to correct your vision. This may not be suitable for every patient, particularly as there is the risk of the flap being dislodged or infected post-surgery. However, PRK is not the only flapless option. Lenticule extraction with ZEISS SMILE offers a flapless, minimally invasive alternative that leverages advanced technology and techniques. If you are considering PRK or LASIK, talk to your eye doctor to see if lenticule extraction using ZEISS SMILE would be a more suitable option for your individual needs.

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  • 1

    Approved and available in selected markets.
  • 2

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  • 3

    Data on file (unpublished). The whole procedure including extracting the lenticule lasts about 5 to 10 minutes per eye.