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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.

Recovery after PRK

What to expect after laser vision correction

The photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) procedure corrects a wide range of refractive errors, including nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The procedure involves complete removal of the epithelium (the upper layer of your cornea) to allow your surgeon to sculpt the tissue below with a laser, thereby correcting your vision. Surgery takes around 15 minutes per eye and is performed as an outpatient procedure. But what happens after surgery? How long does it take for your eyes to heal and recover? Discover more about PRK aftercare here.

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The PRK recovery timeline

The phases of recovery after laser vision correction
Woman standing indoors with a calm expression, representing confidence after PRK surgery.

The first few days after surgery

Your surgeon will have inserted a bandage contact lens at the end of your treatment which helps your eye to recover and promotes regrowth of the epithelium layer. This lens may be removed in most cases about three days after the treatment, depending on how fast the eye heals.

In the days after surgery, you should avoid rubbing your eyes and try not to let them come into contact with water.

You should also use the antibiotics or anti-inflammatory eye drops prescribed by your doctor for about a month post-surgery to help promote proper corneal healing. Always complete the course of treatment, even if you feel your eye has healed.

Smiling eye doctor in consultation room, representing expert advice and guidance for patients after PRK treatment.

The subsequent weeks after surgery

As the cornea stabilises and adapts to its new shape, your vision may be blurry or fluctuate for several weeks after PRK surgery. You may also experience some discomfort, such as slight eye pain, burning, itching or sensitivity to light. These symptoms can usually be controlled by medication.

Please note, you must not partake in strenuous activity or sport until your eye doctor advises you it is safe to do so.

Patient and eye doctor in a consultation setting, reviewing diagnostic results.

The months after surgery and long-term aftercare

You will need to attend regular follow-up visits with your doctor to monitor your healing progress and eyesight.

Hands holding a book in clear focus, symbolizing the restored ability to read comfortably after PRK laser eye surgery.

How long will it take for my vision to improve?

Recovery is a very personal process and healing times vary from patient to patient. Typically, recovering from PRK surgery takes longer than other types of laser vision correction because the outer layer of the eye needs time to regenerate and heal. However, your vision should gradually improve in about a month. Most patients’ vision becomes stable within three to six months after PRK surgery.

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Frequently asked questions

  • It normally takes your eye around three days to grow back a new layer of epithelium cells over your cornea. After that, your doctor will remove the bandage contact lens, and you should be able to see more clearly. It will then take about a month for most patients´ vision to stabilise. Your eye may also feel uncomfortable, gritty and itchy at times after the PRK surgery.

  • Compared to the other laser vision correction techniques, PRK has a longer recovery time as there is an extra step involved in the healing process: the outer layer of the eye, which is completely removed during the treatment, has to grow back naturally. This process takes about three days, so this has to be added to the overall recovery time.

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