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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.

Possible side effects

Like all laser vision correction, the PRK procedure may result in with certain risks and side effects. Many side effects of laser vision correction are temporary and disappear after your eye has fully healed. However, it is important that you are aware of any complications that could occur due to surgery, so you can alert your eye doctor should you notice any of the conditions listed here.

Woman standing indoors with a calm expression, representing confidence after PRK surgery.

Complications after PRK surgery

Vision problems
As the PRK technique involves the use of laser on the surface of the cornea, corneal haze is one of the most significant complications of this surgery. It is a very rare condition that usually disappears on its own, within about a year. Corneal haze can be alleviated by medication (eye drops). Some people experience glares or halos (especially at night), blurry vision or ghosting (a characteristic of double vision). These are more common in the early post-operative period and gradually improve over the time in the majority of patients.

Dry eye
Dry, scratchy eyes are relatively common in the initial days after surgery. This condition gradually improves for the majority of the patients and is usually treated with artificial tears or other treatment options. As dry eye could cause discomfort and blurring, your eye doctor will check whether you have dry eye syndrome before performing PRK vision correction.

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

Infection
There is a very small probability of developing an eye infection after PRK surgery. It is important to alert your doctor if your eye turns red, you experience pain or your vision is impaired. Infections can be treated successfully if diagnosed early but can leave serious damage if not treated promptly.

Over- or undercorrection
In addition to the surgical side effects listed above, it should be stressed that not everyone’s vision completely improves after PRK. Depending on your medical history and how your cornea heals, some small visual issues might remain, meaning that you would still need glasses or contact lenses in certain situations. If your eyes are over- or undercorrected, then a follow-up surgery might be necessary to correct the remaining refractive error.

Introducing a minimally invasive treatment: ZEISS SMILE & SMILE pro

Many patients are interested in PRK because it does not involve your ophthalmic surgeon creating a flap during the treatment, thereby avoiding flap-related side effects such as inflammation or dislocation. But there are minimally invasive, flapless and bladeless procedures available that will quickly correct your eyesight – lenticule extraction with with ZEISS SMILE and ZEISS SMILE pro.

Find a clinic near you

Frequently asked questions

  • PRK surgery has good success rates, but like any surgery, it is not risk-free. Some possible complications include infection and inflammation of the eye, glares, halos and starbursts, as well as corneal haze and dry eyes. Many of these complications are treatable with medication; however, some of them may require additional surgery. You should contact your ophthalmic surgeon immediately if you notice any signs of infection, redness of the eye, pain, discharge, or impaired vision.

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    ZEISS SMILE pro

    Lenticule extraction with SMILE® pro from ZEISS is an advanced laser vision correction treatment. Using ZEISS SMILE pro, your surgeon can treat nearsightedness and farsightedness¹ with or without astigmatism in a minimally invasive procedure – with less than 10 seconds of laser exposure when treating nearsightedness2 and less than 13 seconds when treating farsightedness3.

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    Lenticule extraction with SMILE® from ZEISS is an advanced laser vision correction. Using ZEISS SMILE, your surgeon can correct nearsightedness with or without astigmatism in a minimally invasive procedure.

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    PRK

    PRK, developed in the 1980s, was the first laser vision correction procedure and is still used today for certain patients. It can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. While newer techniques like ZEISS SMILE, ZEISS SMILE pro and LASIK are available, PRK remains a trusted option for patients with specific eye conditions.

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    ZEISS PRESBYOND

    As you age, your vision becomes increasingly blurry up close. This condition is called presbyopia and refers to the natural decline in our eyesight over time. If you are seeking an alternative to glasses or contacts, laser vision correction like ZEISS PRESBYOND may help.

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    Astigmatism

    If you experience blurry vision, halos, or glare, especially at night, you may have astigmatism. This common condition occurs alongside nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia). While glasses or contact lenses can correct it, laser vision correction offers an alternative solution for treating astigmatism.

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    Treatment comparison

    Explore other options of laser vision correction and how they differ in technique, treatment approach or recovery time. Your eye doctor can help determine the best option for you.

  • 1

    Approved and available in selected markets.
  • 2

    Data on file (unpublished). Myopia with optical zone of 6.5 mm.
  • 3

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