PRK vs. Custom PRK: Understanding Your Vision Correction Options

Photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK, is an outpatient laser operation used to improve vision. PRK has been performed since 1986 and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1995, although its use has declined since the creation of LASIK surgery.

PRK

• PRK can quickly and safely correct farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. In the operation, a laser is used to reshape the outer surface of the cornea and a layer of epithelium is removed.

Custom PRK

• The custom and standard PRK procedures are identical, except that in custom PRK, an individual map of your eye is made prior to surgery using wavefront technology. This unique map of your eye is then used to customize the surgery to your eye's precise needs.

Benefits

• Today, most people undergoing laser vision correction choose LASIK because of its quick recovery period. PRK and custom PRK, however, are important options for people with large pupils, corneas that are too thin for LASIK surgery or scarring from infection or trauma, as well as those in the military. Custom PRK in particular is important for people with high-order aberrations.