PRK
Surface laser correction with no flap. A strong option for thinner corneas, contact sports and some careers.
- Time in the laser suite
- About 15 min, both eyes
- Uncomfortable days
- Usually 3 to 5
- Vision settles over
- 1 to 3 months, sometimes longer
01 · Overview
How PRK works
PRK was the first laser vision correction, and it is still widely used. Instead of making a flap, the surgeon gently removes the thin surface layer of the cornea, then the laser reshapes the tissue underneath. The surface grows back over a few days.
Because there is no flap, PRK keeps more of the cornea's strength. The trade-off is a slower, less comfortable first week than LASIK.
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01
Numbing drops
Same comfort steps as LASIK. No needles.
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02
Surface layer removed
The surgeon clears the outer skin of the cornea in a small circle.
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03
Laser reshaping
The excimer laser reshapes the cornea while it tracks your eye.
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04
Bandage lens
A soft contact lens protects the surface while it heals. We remove it at a visit a few days later.
02 · Good fit?
Who PRK often suits, and who should wait
Often a good fit
- Thinner corneas, or a corneal map that makes a flap less suitable
- Contact sports, martial arts or jobs where an eye injury is more likely
- A stable prescription for at least a year
- You can take most of a week off screens and driving
Maybe not, or not yet
- Very high prescriptions, where ICL or lens surgery may fit better
- Untreated dry eye or eyelid inflammation
- Pregnancy or nursing
- If you need to be back at work in 1 to 2 days
Only an in-person exam can decide. These lists help you know what to ask. Your corneal map, prescription history and eye health decide. Try the self-check
03 · Risks and side effects
Said plainly, before you book
We describe how often things happen in words, not percentages, and we go through them again at your screening with your own measurements in front of us. No surgery is risk-free, and no one can promise a specific result.
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Common
Pain and light sensitivity in the first days
The surface heals over 3 to 5 days and it can ache. We send you home with a comfort plan and a bandage lens.
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Common
Dry eye, halos and glare
Similar to LASIK, usually easing over months. Some people notice night halos long term.
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Less common
Slow or uneven healing
Vision can take longer to sharpen. A touch-up is sometimes advised once things are stable.
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Rare
Corneal haze
A faint cloudiness can form, mostly with higher prescriptions. Drops and sun protection lower the chance.
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Rare
Infection
Uncommon, but the reason we check you within the first days and keep the bandage lens clean.
04 · Recovery
What the days and weeks after look like
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Days 1 to 3
Aching, watering and light sensitivity. Plan to rest at home.
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Days 4 to 7
Bandage lens removed at a visit. Vision is usable but soft.
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Weeks 2 to 4
Most people drive and work normally. Vision still changes day to day.
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Months 1 to 3
Sharpness keeps improving. Sunglasses outdoors matter more with PRK.
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Months 3 to 6
We check stability and discuss any lasting dryness or halos.
05 · Cost
$2,000 to $2,800
per eye
PRK is quoted per eye after your screening. Prescription drops, including the steroid drops some people need for a few months, are billed by your pharmacy.
Pricing, financing and FSA/HSAWhat your quote includes
- Free screening and surgeon consultation
- Corneal mapping and wavefront planning
- Bandage lens and all follow-up visits for 12 months
- No surgeon fee for an enhancement within 2 years, when advised and suitable
Financing through outside lenders is subject to credit approval. Terms vary; you see them before you sign.
Is PRK worse than LASIK?
Not worse, different. Long-term vision results are often similar. PRK has a slower start, and keeps more corneal strength because there is no flap.
How long before I can drive?
Most people are cleared within 1 to 2 weeks. We confirm your vision meets the legal standard first.
Also worth comparing
Free screening
Find out if PRK fits your eyes.
A free 90-minute screening, a surgeon who reads the results with you, and a written quote per eye if surgery makes sense. If it does not, we will tell you that too.