PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)

Clear vision is achieved when light falls on your cornea (transparent outer curved layer) and lens (flexible biconvex lens inside your eyes), which bend to focus the light on the photosensitive retina at the back of your eye. An abnormally curved cornea and lens fail to focus light on the retina, causing blurred vision. Photorefractive keratectomy is a procedure that uses laser to correct the shape of the cornea so that it focuses an image more accurately on the retina.

The procedure is indicated when the cornea is curved too little (farsightedness), too steeply (near-sightedness) or irregularly (astigmatism).

If you use contact lenses, you may be asked to stop wearing them for a period prior to the procedure. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and takes about 10 minutes to treat both eyes. A laser is directed on the cornea to correct its curvature. Your eyes are covered with a special contact lens bandage that remains in place for at least 3-4 days to allow the corneal surfaces to heal.

You may experience some eye irritation and sensitivity to light for 2-3 days which is normal. Your doctor will prescribe eye drops to control pain, inflammation and infection. Vision may be blurry initially, but improves gradually over a period of weeks to months.

The procedure is mostly accurate but occasional complications include reduced vision, glaring and halo formation.