What you need to know about:

Photorefractive Keratectomy

Fast Fact

83%

Worth It Rating

Average Cost:

$850

Recovery Period:

5-6 days

Permanence:

Depends on patient condition

177

Doctors

Time it takes:

10 minutes

Hospitals & Clinics

Reviews

Anesthetize:

None

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Overview of

Photorefractive Keratectomy

in Thailand

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a laser procedure performed to correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. The procedure begins with exposing the cornea by removing the flap cover it. An excimer laser is then used to adjust the curvature of the cornea. This method is suitable for patients with thin corneas and those in certain occupations, such as soldiers, pilots, etc.

Goals of

Photorefractive Keratectomy

The main reason for photorefractive keratectomy is to correct vision and reduce the person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses. The decision depends on the patient’s lifestyle and level of eyesight.

Price of

Photorefractive Keratectomy

Average Cost

$850

Price Range

$700 to $1,000

Pros and cons of

Photorefractive Keratectomy

Pros

-Long history of success

-No flap created during surgery

-Small chance of long-term complications

-High rate of success

Cons

-Long recovery (~30 days) that can be disruptive to your life

-Requires bandages that need to be removed

-Discomfort lasts for several weeks

How it works:

Photorefractive Keratectomy

The patient will lie on their back on the operating table. The area around the eyes will be cleaned and numbing drops will be administered. The patient should focus on the red-orange light in the center of the operating microscope. The ophthalmologist will remove the corneal epithelium using a blade or mechanical brush or by the laser. Next, the excimer laser is used to remove the ultra-thin layer of the corneal surface to reshape the cornea to form the small lenses as programmed by computer. The sound of the excimer laser is quite loud, similar to that of a machine gun. There may be a burning smell from the ablated cornea tissue, which is normal for this procedure. Antibiotic eye drops are used to prevent eye infection and soft contact lenses are used to cover the wounds.

Preparation before

Photorefractive Keratectomy

Pre - treatment

Avoid soft contact lenses for at least 3 days and hard contact lenses for at least 7 days before the procedure. Avoid overusing or straining the eyes before the surgery as this can cause the eyes to become too dry. Do not wear make-up, perfume, hair oil, and any other hair products on the day of the procedure. Wash your hair the day before or on the day of the procedure. Wash your face before the procedure.

Recovery after

Photorefractive Keratectomy

Post - treatment

After the procedure you should return home and rest your eyes as much as possible. On the day of the procedure the treated eye(s) should be kept covered to prevent you from touching or rubbing them and to avoid any impact to them. They should then be covered only while sleeping for a week or two after the procedure. Avoid washing your face and hair. Use a washcloth for your face and get your hair washed at a salon, if necessary, for about a week after the procedure or as recommended by your doctor. Use the prescribed medication and eye drops. Keep all follow-up appointments. Take pain medication as needed. If you experience any abnormal symptoms, such as increased redness or discharge or if your vision worsens, see your doctor as soon as possible. Some burning, irritation, and tearing is normal after the procedure. Avoid staring at a computer screen for more than 2 hours a day for at least 2 weeks after the procedure. Do not swim, dive, or use a sauna for at least two weeks after the procedure.

Risks & side effects

-Short-Term Pain or discomfort in the first 72-96 hours -Feeling something in the eye Floaters Double vision -Sensitivity to light, and tearing -Long-Term Haze -Loss of clarity of the cornea, usually not affecting vision and usually resolving over time. -Glare, starbursting, halo effect around light, or other low-light vision problems that may interfere with the ability to drive at night or see well in dim light. Although there are several possible causes for these difficulties, the risk may be increased in patients with large pupils or high degree of correction. For most patients, this is a temporary condition that improves with time or is correctable by wearing glasses at night or using eye drops. For some patients, however, these problems are permanent. It is not possible to predict who will experience these night vision or low light problems and who will permanently lose the ability to drive at night or function in the dim light. Loss of correct vision. A decrease in the correct vision even with glasses or contact lenses. Intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation. An increase in the inner eye pressure due to post photorefractive keratectomy medications, which is usually resolved by dose adjustment. Mild or severe infection. Mild infection can usually be treated with antibiotics and usually does not lead to permanent vision loss. Severe infection, even if successfully treated with antibiotics, could lead to permanent scarring and loss of vision that may require corrective laser surgery or, if severe, corneal transplantation.

FAQs:

Photorefractive Keratectomy

Who is eligible for the procedure?

Healthy eye 18 years or older Stable eyesight No serious eye diseases (e.g. severe keratoconus, severe dry eye, uncontrolled glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc.) No serious systemic diseases (e.g. autoimmune, collagen vascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, uncontrolled diabetes, etc.) No medical contraindications No history of steroid side effects Not pregnant or breastfeeding Realistic expectation of the final results Understand the risks and complications

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What are the travel recommendations?

Before the Procedure Please plan to stay in Thailand for at least 1 week through the duration of the treatment. It is recommended that you stay in a hotel close to the hospital for convenience in traveling to the hospital before and after the procedure. After the Procedure After the procedure your eye(s) will be covered for at least 1 day. A family member or friend should come with you to the hospital and accompany you home. You will be able to see immediately the next day. You will return for a follow-up appointment the next day. If you have no abnormal symptoms, you can travel back to your home country, depending on your doctor’s recommendations. Please return for follow-up appointments regularly after the procedure. See your doctor the day after the procedure and then 1, 3, and 6 months after the procedure. If it is not convenient for you to travel to the hospital to see a doctor, you may see an ophthalmologist closer to your home or in your home country.

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What is the likelihood of success?

The patient should achieve a good result. Any complications that occur after PRK are usually correctable without affecting vision.

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What Will My Vision Be Like After Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)?

About 9 out of 10 people who have PRK end up with 20/40 vision or better without glasses or contact lenses. It is important to know that PRK cannot correct presbyopia. This is the normal, age-related loss of close-up vision. With or without refractive surgery, almost everyone who has excellent distance vision will need reading glasses after around age 40. To help with presbyopia, some people have PRK to get monovision. This means one eye is left slightly nearsighted and the other eye is adjusted for distance vision. The brain learns to adapt so that the nearsighted eye is used for close work, while the other eye sees distant objects. Monovision is not for everyone. To see if you are able to adapt to this correction, you will probably want to try monovision with contact lenses first.

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