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LASEK/PRK

Photorefractive keratectomy (abbreviated as PRK) is a surgical procedure performed from 1987, considered as one of the oldest methods of refraction laser surgery. The procedure involves the removal of the upper corneal cell layer (epithelium), followed by the appropriate fashioning of the underlying corneal tissue with the aid of an excimer laser. Such procedures are effective and safe, and above all guarantee the patients a marked improvement in their vision.

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK for short) is a surgical procedure that has been performed since 1987, and is considered one of the older methods of refractive laser surgery.
The procedure itself involves removing the upper cell layer of the cornea (epithelium) and then properly reshaping the underlying corneal tissue using an excimer laser.
The treatments are effective and safe, and above all, they guarantee patients a significant improvement in vision.

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The course of the operation

At first, the face is washed with a disinfectant. The patient is given local anesthesia in the form of eye drops. The eyelids are painlessly immobilized with the help of dilators. The patient looks at the flashing light at the top throughout the operation. In the first stage, the upper cell layer of the cornea (epithelium) is manually removed.

The surgeon then uses a very precise laser beam to remove a thin layer of the corneal surface. The laser reshapes and molds the existing corneal tissue in such a way as to eliminate visual defects and corneal curvature. The patient does not feel pain – the only thing he or she may experience is the sound of the laser. The entire procedure is constantly monitored by the surgeon, who constantly supervises the use of the laser with the help of a microscope.

During the final stage of the LASEK/PRK procedure, soft, dressing lenses are inserted to protect the eyes after surgery. The protective lenses are removed by the surgeon after 2-4 days.

Preparation

Before commencing the procedure, we thoroughly disinfect the patient’s entire face. Next the patient receives anesthetic eye drops, his eyelids are immobilized throughout the procedure by retractors. All of this is completely painless. During the procedure, the patient is asked to look at a blinking light above him.

Exposure of the epithelium

In the first phase of the procedure, the surgeon manually removes the upper cell layer of the cornea, or epithelium. In newer-generation treatments (e.g., LASIK or Femto-LASIK, the epithelium is only folded rather than completely removed).

Excimer laser correction

The next stage of the procedure in the LASEK-PRK method is the use of a very precise laser beam to model and properly shape the cornea to eliminate vision defects.

Protection of the eye after surgery

The final phase of the laser vision correction procedure involves protecting the eyes with soft contact lenses with high oxygen permeability. They are removed after 2-4 days by a surgeon.

Preparation

Exposure of the epithelium

Excimer laser correction

The next stage of the procedure in the LASEK-PRK method is the use of a very precise laser beam to model and properly shape the cornea to eliminate vision defects.

Protection of the eye after surgery

The final phase of the laser vision correction procedure involves protecting the eyes with soft contact lenses with high oxygen permeability. They are removed after 2-4 days by a surgeon.

Important information

The difference between the various treatment methods is the process for removing the epithelium (or flap):

PRK – the epithelium is completely removed after being softened by an alcohol solution.
LASEK – the epithelium is folded back to the side prior to the laser procedure. After the laser vision correction, the attempt is made to place the epithelium fold back into place. It is not always possible.
Epi-LASIK – komórki nabłonka są odłączane od właściwej tkanki rogówki za pomocą mechanicznego mikroskalpela (mikrokeratomu), aby po zabiegu możliwe było ich ponowne nasunięcie.
No-Touch-PRK – the epithelial cells are detached from the stable corneal tissue with the aid of a mechanical microscalpel (microkeratome), so that the flap can be replaced after the procedure. No-Touch- PRK- the epithelium is precisely removed with the excimer laser before the proper correction is performed, thus the risk of infection is minimal. This is the most precise method of surface laser vision correction.
EBK – the epithelium is precisely removed by an Epi-Clear knife.

After the operation, the patient notices an improvement in vision, but the eyes should be protected for the rest of the day. The regeneration of the cells following the operation takes about 2-3 days and may cause severe pain, because the upper layer of the cornea is removed. The pain can be relieved by taking painkillers. It is important to remember that the quality of vision may fluctuate during the first weeks or months following the procedure.