Home > Encyclopedia of Surgery > Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

Definition

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a noninvasive refractive surgery in which the surgeon uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea of the eye by removing the epithelium, the gel-like outer layer of the cornea.

Purpose

PRK, one of the first (and once the most popular) refractive surgeries, eliminates or reduces moderate nearsightedness (myopia), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism; it is most commonly used to treat myopia. Successfully treated PRK patients no longer require corrective lenses, and those who do still require correction, require much less.

PRK is an elective, outpatient surgery, and people choose the treatment for different reasons. Some simply no longer want to wear...