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Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a procedure in which the surface of the cornea is reshaped using the excimer laser. PRK may be used to treat myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism.
PRK is commonly used in patients who are not suitable candidates for LASIK. Unlike LASIK, in which the laser is applied to the layer of the eye below the flap, in PRK the laser is applied to the superficial layers of the cornea and there is no flap. Because the protective superficial layers of the cornea must heal post-operatively following PRK, patients who undergo PRK will require significantly more time than LASIK patients to achieve their best vision.
The outcomes of PRK and LASIK are
quite comparable at the 6 month post-operative visit and in some patients PRK is a safer procedure than LASIK.
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