PRK in detail - Eyesight

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PRK is short for the generic term Photo Refractive Keratotomy which is a technique where the cornea is modified so that the path light takes when it passes through your eye is corrected to produce better vision. PRK is the original form for the techniques now refered to as Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA). The following pictures show how faulty eye sight can be corrected using an excimer laser.

ASA - Advanced Surface Ablation

ASA (Advanced Surface Ablation) using the new VISX Star system produces even better results than the basic PRK and is particularly useful for patients with thin corneas.

Images are distorted when the cornea does not focus light directly on the retina correctly.

image showing a cornea with incorrect focus

PRK surgery is performed resulting in eye sight being restored to near normal

image showing the corrected cornea

The excimer laser adjusts the cornea so that light is focused correctly.

simulation of the corneal surgery

If your eye isn't producing a sharp focus, the cornea can be remodelled to correct the problem. This can be accomplished using an excimer laser to vapourise minute portions of the cornea.
Notice how the treatment only removes a small portion of the corneal material.

PRK was first performed in Berlin, Germany in 1988. Since that time millions of people around the world have been treated using this method.