Carter Eye Lasik Vision Correction Blog

PRK, which stands for photorefractive keratectomy, is one of the older vision correction procedures still widely performed today. Historically, this was the most common type of refractive surgery worldwide, and the Food and Drug Administration approved the special excimer laser and its cool, ultraviolet beam of light in 1995.

How PRK Works

PRK is painless and in clinics like The Carter Eye Center, it is performed on an outpatient basis. And besides the mild sedative at the outset of the surgery, no other sedation is needed and the surgery takes only a minute. The laser beam is hyper-accurate and removes microscopic pieces of corneal tissue to slightly bend the shape of the cornea. This is called ablating, and the end result is a rounder cornea that focuses light better than before.

Both nearsighted and farsighted individuals can benefit from PRK, and astigmatism sufferers can have this fixed as well because of the fact that it reshapes the eye.

At The Carter Eye Center, we help determine if PRK would be the ideal treatment—or if another is a better option—for you through a number of ways. Through corneal topography, we first "map" the shape of your cornea to give an accurate picture.

Corneal topography, along with an idea of your medical history, then helps us determine the next steps. If you would like to know more, as well as receive a free consultation, please contact Dr. Harvey Carter and his team of experienced professionals today. We serve clients in and around the DFW Metroplex.