“I feel like I'm seeing in HD, and I'm so grateful.”
Patricia Shank
PRK
What Is PRK?
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is a surface-based laser vision correction procedure that reshapes the cornea, the clear dome-shaped tissue at the front of the eye, so light focuses correctly on the retina. A computer-controlled excimer laser removes precise, microscopic amounts of corneal tissue to change its curvature, correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
What sets PRK apart from LASIK is that no corneal flap is created. The outermost layer of the cornea, called the epithelium, is gently removed before the laser is applied, and it regenerates naturally over the following days. PRK was the first laser vision correction procedure to receive FDA approval and has been performed for decades, and advances in laser technology and surgical technique have made modern PRK highly precise and predictable.
At NewView Eye Center, serving patients throughout Northern Virginia, we offer PRK as a proven path to lasting freedom from glasses and contact lenses. It is especially well suited to patients who may not qualify for LASIK because of corneal thickness, certain eye characteristics, or a high-risk lifestyle.
Why PRK Instead of LASIK?
In LASIK, a thin flap is created in the cornea and the tissue underneath is treated, leaving most of the epithelium intact. PRK takes that surface layer off instead. The flap-free approach eliminates flap-related risks entirely and preserves more of the cornea's structural integrity, which is why PRK is often the preferred option for patients with thinner-than-average corneas or mild surface irregularities.
It is also the preferred choice for patients in contact sports, military service, or law enforcement, where a blow to the face could theoretically displace a LASIK flap. Because no flap is ever created, PRK carries no such risk. The trade-off arrives early: your eye must regrow its protective surface layer from scratch, so PRK involves more discomfort and blurrier vision in the first days than LASIK does. For many patients that trade-off is well worth making.
Who Is a Good Candidate for PRK?
01
Age and Prescription Stability
Good candidates are generally 18 or older with a vision prescription that has been stable for at least a year. A shifting prescription suggests the eye is still changing, so surgery is best deferred until vision has been consistent. Pregnant or nursing patients are typically advised to wait, as hormonal changes can temporarily affect the eyes.
02
Corneal Thickness and Eye Health
Because PRK creates no corneal flap, it is often preferred for patients with thinner-than-average corneas or mild surface irregularities. Your LASIK Surgeon measures corneal thickness carefully to confirm enough tissue remains for safe treatment. Eyes should also be free of active infection, uncontrolled glaucoma, and other conditions that interfere with healing.
03
Prescription Range
PRK corrects nearsightedness up to approximately 8 diopters, farsightedness up to around 3 diopters, and astigmatism up to roughly 3 to 4 diopters. A diopter is the unit used to measure the strength of a prescription. Prescriptions outside these ranges may be better served by another approach, which your surgeon will discuss with you.
04
Lifestyle and Occupation
PRK is often the preferred choice for patients in contact sports, military service, or law enforcement, where a blow to the face could theoretically displace a LASIK flap. Because no flap is created, PRK carries no such risk. Active patients who place high demands on their eyes frequently find it suits them better over the long term.
05
Realistic Expectations
Ideal candidates understand that PRK involves a longer initial recovery than LASIK and are prepared for temporary blurriness while the surface heals. Patients who follow their postoperative care instructions carefully, and give their eyes the time they need, tend to have the best outcomes.
How the PRK
Procedure Works
PRK is performed on an outpatient basis and typically takes about 10 to 15 minutes per eye. Every step is guided by the precise measurements taken during your preoperative evaluation, so the treatment is matched to your exact prescription.
01
Preparing Your Eye for Surgery
Numbing eye drops are applied so you stay comfortable throughout the procedure. A small device gently holds your eye open, and you will be asked to focus on a fixed light to help keep your eye steady. No injections or sedation are required for most patients.
02
Removing the Surface Layer
The epithelium, the outermost cell layer covering the cornea, is carefully removed to expose the tissue underneath. This may be done with a surgical instrument, a diluted alcohol solution, or a laser, depending on your LASIK Surgeon's technique and your specific needs. This step is what allows PRK to work without a flap.
03
Laser Reshaping of the Cornea
Once the surface is prepared, the excimer laser delivers precisely controlled pulses of light energy to reshape the cornea to your exact prescription. You may hear a soft clicking sound and notice a faint odor, both of which are completely normal. The laser treatment itself takes only seconds to a few minutes.
04
Bandage Contact Lens Placement
A soft, clear bandage contact lens is then placed on the eye. It is not a prescription lens: it protects the healing corneal surface, reduces discomfort, and keeps conditions stable while the epithelium grows back. Your LASIK Surgeon removes it at a follow-up visit once the surface has sealed.
What Happens During PRK Recovery
01
The First 24 Hours
A soft bandage contact lens protects each treated eye. Expect moderate discomfort, scratchiness, tearing, blurry vision, and significant light sensitivity. Rest at home in a dim, quiet room, keep your eyes closed as much as possible, and take your pain relievers and drops exactly as directed.
02
Days Two Through Four
The epithelium begins to grow back while the bandage lens stays in place. Discomfort typically peaks around day two or three before improving. Keep every follow-up appointment, never rub or touch your eyes, wear sunglasses outside, and do not skip a dose.
03
Week One
By day four or five most patients notice the discomfort fading. We remove the bandage lens between day three and day seven, once the epithelium has sealed. Vision stays blurry and may shift from hour to hour — completely normal as the new surface cells settle.
04
Weeks Two Through Four
Vision improves day by day and most routine activities resume, though some days seem clearer than others. Glare and halos at night are common, and dryness and mild light sensitivity can persist. Avoid pools, hot tubs, and eye makeup until your LASIK Surgeon clears you.
05
Months One Through Six
Most patients reach their best vision between one and three months, with subtle improvements continuing up to six months as the prescription stabilizes. Night-vision disturbances fade, and steroid drops plus UV-blocking sunglasses significantly reduce the risk of corneal haze.
Getting Back to Your Routine
Most patients take five to seven days off work after PRK, though some need up to two weeks depending on their job and how quickly their eyes heal. Light walking is fine within the first few days, strenuous exercise waits at least a week, and eye makeup waits one to two weeks. Confirm every timeline with your LASIK Surgeon based on your individual healing.
How to Care for
Your Eyes After PRK
Your daily habits during recovery have a direct impact on how smoothly and quickly your cornea heals. Following your post-operative instructions carefully gives your eyes the best environment to recover fully.
PRK Recovery by the Numbers
3–7days
Bandage contact lens stays in place
5–7days
Typical time off work
1–3mo
When most patients reach their best vision
6–12mo
UV-blocking sunglasses after surgery
Your Follow-Up Appointments After PRK
Post-operative visits are a core part of your PRK care. At each one we check corneal surface clarity and epithelial regrowth, visual acuity, signs of inflammation or early haze, corneal thickness and shape, eye pressure, and tear production — no single measurement tells the whole story.
01
The Day After Surgery
We confirm the bandage contact lens is positioned correctly, examine the corneal surface to check that healing has begun, and adjust medications if needed. Bring your drops so we can review the schedule together.
02
Bandage Lens Removal
Between day three and day seven, once the outer layer has fully closed, we remove the lens. Many patients feel noticeable relief, though some have temporary dryness or a foreign-body sensation for a few days afterward.
03
One-Month Progress Check
A comprehensive exam measures your vision, assesses corneal healing, and evaluates your tear film, so we can add stronger lubricating drops or punctal plugs if your eyes need more support.
04
Three-Month Review
We measure your prescription, evaluate any night-vision symptoms, and discuss whether your results match the goals we set before surgery. An enhancement is only considered once the cornea has fully stabilized.
What's Normal During PRK Recovery
Most of what you experience falls within the range of normal healing. Knowing which symptoms are expected — and which are not — gives you confidence and helps protect your outcome. Expand each one to learn more.
Discomfort ranging from mild scratchiness to moderate pain is expected for the first three to five days — many patients describe it as sand or an eyelash in the eye. Prescribed medications plus over-the-counter pain relievers should keep you reasonably comfortable. Contact our office right away if pain becomes severe, spreads beyond the eye area, or suddenly worsens after improving.
Blurriness is most pronounced during the first week and sharpens noticeably between weeks two and four. Fluctuation through the day is completely normal during the first month and is not a sign that something is wrong. Final clarity usually arrives around the three-month mark.
Halos and starbursts around headlights and streetlights are very common while the tear film, epithelium, and pupil size settle, and they fade significantly after the first month. Let your LASIK Surgeon know if night vision problems persist beyond three months or seem to be worsening rather than improving.
PRK temporarily disrupts the corneal nerve fibers that signal your eye to produce tears, so nearly everyone has some dryness. It typically peaks during the first month and improves over three to six months. Preservative-free artificial tears used frequently give meaningful relief, and we can add gels, ointments, or other dry eye treatments if drops are not enough.
Haze is a healing-related cloudiness that can appear weeks to months after surgery, showing up as new blurriness, increased glare, or reduced contrast sensitivity. It is uncommon when steroid drops and UV precautions are followed carefully, and when it does develop we can often treat it successfully with medication adjustments.
Warning Signs That Need Urgent Care
Most PRK recovery symptoms are normal, but a few need prompt evaluation: sudden vision loss, severe pain that does not respond to your prescribed medications, pain that worsens after initially improving, intense or sudden redness, thick yellow or green discharge or other signs of infection, rapidly worsening light sensitivity, a bandage contact lens that falls out before your removal appointment, or new floaters, flashes of light, or a shadow moving across your vision. Contact our office right away — if we are closed, reach the on-call provider or seek care at an emergency eye clinic.
Frequently asked questions
Common points of uncertainty that patients raise after PRK, especially around day-to-day decisions during recovery.
It depends on what your job involves. For screen-based or desk work, five to seven days is a reasonable minimum. If your role involves driving, detailed close work, bright environments, or safety-critical visual tasks, planning for ten to fourteen days gives you more comfortable margin. Talk through your specific situation with your LASIK Surgeon before your procedure date.
The cornea heals at its own biological pace, and no technique safely accelerates it. What you can do is avoid the habits that slow it down: take every prescribed drop on schedule, stay out of the sun without UV protection, get adequate sleep, stay hydrated, and eat a diet with vitamins A and C. Skipping drops or rushing back to physical activity are the most common ways patients extend their own recovery.
Yes, and it is one of the most frequently asked questions after PRK. Each eye heals independently, and differences in corneal thickness, healing rate, or tear film quality can leave one eye clear several days or even a week or two before the other. As long as both eyes are moving in the right direction and your exams show normal healing, this asymmetry typically resolves as healing completes.
Most patients can drive during daylight hours within one to two weeks, once vision is stable and light sensitivity has settled. Night driving is a different matter: halos and glare around headlights can persist for several weeks. Before you get behind the wheel, confirm with your LASIK Surgeon that your vision meets your state's legal requirements and that you feel genuinely confident in real traffic conditions.
Contact our office and come in as soon as possible for an examination. During the first week the epithelium is still fragile, and we need to check that the healing surface remains intact. After the first week the risk drops substantially, but rubbing should still be avoided throughout recovery. If your eyes feel itchy, apply a lubricating drop instead — that usually provides enough relief to resist the urge.
Vision can stay noticeably blurry for four to six weeks while the deeper corneal layers remodel and residual surface swelling resolves — that is within the normal range for PRK. If you are approaching the two-month mark without meaningful improvement, or your vision seems to be declining, let us know promptly so we can evaluate for corneal haze, a residual prescription, or other treatable factors.
Ready to see Clearly Again?
Hear From Their Experience
“I still have 20/20 vision, and this was like a miracle to me in my life.”
Dr. Renee Yingling
“They were able to keep the monovision, and I am absolutely thrilled.”
Carol
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