PRK Complications?

There is no such thing as risk-free surgery. PRK and LASIK are very safe but infection, inflammation, scarring, dry eye, halos, and weakening of the cornea are probably the top complications. Serious complications are generally less than 1%.

PRK(photorefractive keratectomy) is extremely safe when performed properly. It is also the treatment I had on my eyes 16 years ago this month(July, 1994)! The two most significant complications of PRK would be a postoperative infection, the chance of which is lower than when you wore contact lenses, and post operative haze of the cornea. Let's talk about post op haze as the risk of infection is so very low(I have never seen one). PRK is indicated for low to moderate nearsightedness... more

The best way to understand the full spectrum of potential side effects for any surgery is to read the doctor's consent form. We have our consent forms on our website to give you an idea of what you will find at various doctors' offices. Go to http://www.edow.com/patient-information/patient-forms/ and scroll down to the link to PRK. It'll give you the option to download the .pdf. Hope that helps!

PRK, known as photorefractive keratectomy, is a laser vision correction procedure which is similar to LASIK and may provide individuals freedom from glasses or contact lenses. There are a number of procedures which are similar to PRK but are modern day equivalents. These names include Advanced Surface Ablation, LASEK, and epi-LASIK. Each doctor has his/her own preference. Just like LASIK, the results may vary. The most common side effects include a small residual prescription, dryness of... more