PRK or PhotoRefractive Keratectomy is one of the first laser eye surgery procedures developed and also approved by the Food and Drug Administration, in the US, compared to Lasik and SMILE, which are the other two famous procedures.
Why PRK?
PRK is preferred by the surgeons for correcting myopia from mild to moderate level. The correction is attempted by reshaping the cornea. PRK procedure is performed by scrapping off the cornea’s outermost layer or epithelium, for exposing the cornea. Microscopic amounts or tiny amounts of tissue are removed out from the cornea surface. The corneal changes required makes use of the computer program to map the surface of the cornea and remove the targeted tissue to obtain the shape expected.
PRK – Success Rate
PRK has the success rate of 95%, according to the Food and Drug Administration medical authority in the US. The success rate is definitely high for the patients, who undergo the PRK eye surgery, when they are qualified technically.
Qualifying Criteria for Better Success Rate
Success rate is basically dependent on the standard protocols followed in every instant of the procedure and also qualification and skill of the eye surgeon. Apart from these two factors, success rate can be better anticipated, when the PRK patient is qualified to undergo the same procedure.
- The refractive error of myopia or nearsightedness must be mild, not severe.
- The potential PRK patient must at least be 21 years of age, in case the treatment is expected to be held with Summit laser, or 18 years old, in case VISX laser is used for treatments, which are excimer laser brands.
- All the side effects and risks must be well known by the candidates, along with the benefits of the surgery.
- The potential candidate has to be free from any problems associated with the retina, eye diseases or even cornea scarring.
The success rate of PRK can be better, when the above criteria are fulfilled.
PRK is one of the laser eye surgeries, like Lasik, Lasek, SMILE and the complications after the surgery are quite often possible, like others. However, the symptoms appear with each of the procedures is different from each other. The best part of the PRK is that the dry condition, which is more prominent symptom after the Lasik procedure, would have less probability.
Another important part of the PRK is that it is the best suitable laser eye procedure preferred for professionals, who have more probability of eye straining activities and eye risky activities. It is because total problem can be resolved, without retaining any source of the problem.
So, like the other laser eye surgery procedures, PRK is also one of the best procedures, with more than 95% of success rate and hence stands as one of the best procedures preferred by the eye surgeons and patients to correct the refractive error issues, in the medical industry.