- Before a PRK procedure, the patient needs to have a complete eye examination by an ophthalmologist to determine what type of correction is needed, measure the cornea to map out the surgery and to make sure there are no medical reasons not to perform the surgery; remember to ask the surgeon any questions about the procedure at this time.
- On the day of the surgery, the patient is taken into the laser surgery suite where a numbing drop is placed into the eye being operated on; the patient then lies down under the laser and an instrument is placed in the eye to hold it open during the procedure.
- Using the measurements obtained at the office visit, the surgeon sets the computer in the laser to correct the refractive error; the patient looks at a light to keep the eye in position.
- The laser uses cool light to remove the tissue of the cornea to reshape it appropriately; the more correction needed, the longer the procedure may take although the procedure should take around a minute.
- After the procedure, the patient can generally go home after a short while; the eye surgeon may prescribe medications to relieve the eye pain or discomfort, but many patients may not need any.
- The patient should follow any instructions that the surgeon gives for the period after the surgery; often the doctor will suggest no work, no exercise, a bandage contact lens and antibiotic eye drops for a few days after the procedure.
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