PRK – Toronto

How PRK Works
During photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), the surface cells of the cornea, called the corneal epithelium, are removed instead of creating a LASIK flap. The excimer laser is applied to reshape the cornea and correct vision. Visual outcomes are equally as impressive as with LASIK, however, the healing time tends to be longer.

Would I Be a Good Candidate for PRK?
Some patients, due to individual variations in the eye's anatomy, may be better candidates for the PRK procedure. PRK is often recommended for patients’ with a thin cornea, high prescription or if topographic abnormalities are noted on the topography assessment. Upon evaluation, your surgeon will indicate which procedure is safest and best suited for you.

What Happens Before the Procedure?
Similar to a LASIK procedure, Toronto PRK patients are required to stop wearing their contact lenses several days before surgery.

Prior to the procedure, several eye tests will be performed including a wavefront analysis and a topographic map of the cornea is created using specialized equipment. The surgeon uses this information to precisely locate and calculate the amount of corneal tissue to be removed by the laser.

What Happens During the Procedure?
Just before surgery, the eye is numbed with “eye drop” anesthesia, after which an eyelid speculum is put in place to hold the eyelid open.

The surface cells of the cornea (called the epithelium) are removed.

Next, cool rays of light from the Excimer Laser reshape the inner tissue of the cornea with up to .25 microns of accuracy. Often, only 50 microns of tissue (about the thickness of a human hair) are removed to achieve the proper amount of correction.

Once the PRK treatment is completed, a bandage contact lens is placed on the surface of the cornea. This bandage lens protects the cornea until a new layer of epithelial cells grow back. This typically occurs within 3-5 days.

What Happens After Surgery?
After the laser vision correction procedure, you should plan to rest for a period of 2-3 hours with your eyes closed. You should also use your eye drops as instructed.

Our PRK Toronto, Scarborough and Unionville surgeons warn that most patients receiving PRK experience mild light sensitivity and mild discomfort after PRK surgery. Several follow-up appointments are made starting with your first appointment the day after the procedure so that the surgeon can observe how well the eyes are healing.

In addition to being some of the leading surgeons performing PRK in Toronto, the experienced surgeons at the Bochner Eye Institute also help patients seeking RLE, keratoconus treatment and laser eye surgery in Toronto and the surrounding area.