PRK by ZEISS operation

The PRK technique is the first generation of refractive surgery through which the laser directly polishes the cornea, on the surface. It is a technique intended especially for people between 18-40 years old, provided that the diopters have been stable in the last year.

 

The PRK technique can correct:
• 6 diopters in myopia
• 4 diopters in myopic astigmatism

 

PRK is a procedure used especially in cases of low myopia or thin corneas that do not allow the lid to be cut from FemtoLASIK. The procedure is painless during the operation but healing takes longer and patients may feel pain in the first days, for which treatment is prescribed.

prk

PRK surgery corrects myopia and myopic astigmatism

The procedure is done with local anesthesia with drops, without any discomfort for the patient, it takes 20-30 minutes for both eyes, of which the action of the excimer laser is of the order of seconds.

 

Want to find out if you are a good candidate for a laser procedure?

Complete the survey below and find out in 2 minutes.

 

The steps to follow are:

  • Evaluation consultation for laser dioptre reductionThis is a complete ophthalmology consultation to assess the health of the eyes and determine the exact optical correction with which vision is best. Added to this is the detailed explanation of the procedure that follows as well as all the particularities of your case.

    You will get answers to all your questions so you know what to expect both in terms of procedures and results and pre- and post-operative conduct.
  • Complete pre-operative investigationsThe complete package of pre-operative investigations and measurements are done in the clinic with state-of-the-art equipment. These are necessary for the precise establishment of the technical parameters according to which the laser will act, all depending on the anatomy of your eyes.

    For your convenience, you can do all the investigations immediately after the consultation, just allocate about 2 hours for both.
  • PRK surgeryYou will undergo a complex, customized, high-precision procedure that reshapes the surface of the cornea to correct diopters. The procedure is painless, local anesthesia with drops being used. The eyelids will be supported with the device so you don't have to worry about blinking. You will be comfortably installed on an automatic bed, the doctor will tell you every step of the way what is next and will ask you to follow with your eyes some luminous landmarks.

    After the epithelium is removed, the actual excimer laser intervention takes about 20 seconds for each eye. At the end, you will be fitted with a therapeutic contact lens that acts as a dressing.
  • Postoperative control and recoveryYou will come for a check-up the next day, a week and then according to the doctor's instructions: one month, 6 months to monitor the healing and adaptation process.

PRK surgery - How is it done?

This technique is based on the ability of the outer layer of the cornea (the epithelium) to regenerate itself naturally. In a first step, the epithelium is dissolved with an alcohol-based solution and gently removed.

 

The correction of visual impairment is achieved by direct grinding of the cornea, on the surface, with the help of the excimer laser. Afterwards, a therapeutic contact lens is applied until the epithelium is restored, which takes several days. The recovery time after this procedure is longer – the eyes heal and vision stabilizes in 5–7 days.

Patient feedback after laser dioptre reduction

Pre-operative investigations for PRK

Laser reshaping requires thorough and very precise measurements of all structures of the eye.

 

Investigations include:

  • Pentacam corneal tomography
  • Specular microscopy
  • Corneal topography
  • Pachimetry
  • Tomography of the retina and optic nerve
  • Pupillometry
  • Computerized perimeter (if applicable)
investigatii presbyond

Recovery after PRK

You will see immediately after getting up from the operating bed, but the vision will be “like through water”.

 

Recovery from PRK is slower than SMILE and FemtoLASIK in terms of both visual acuity and healing. Restoration of the corneal epithelium takes 3-4 days during which you will feel foreign body sensations, burning, lacrimation, light intolerance. For all this you will receive local treatment with drops but also with general painkillers.

 

Until the epithelium is restored, vision will be blurry and unstable. However, after the healing period, the result of the operation is very good, equivalent to the other techniques.

Modern operating room

The Clario operating room is equipped with the latest surgical and sanitary safety and sterility technologies.

 

Dioptre reduction is done with a combination of ZEISS Visumax & MEL femtosecond and excimer lasers, the world leader in this field.

 

The surgical table comes from Brumaba, leader in comfort and reliability.

Doctors with overspecialization in refractive surgery

PRK surgery - Procedures and Prices

(including post-operative control at one day and one week)

We reduce dioptres in the shortest possible time

At Clario, we have optimized all the procedures, so that the time allocated to the patient is the minimum necessary.

  • Day 1: The dioptre reduction assessment consultation and investigation package can be done in the same visit.
  • Day 2: The actual operation
  • Day 3: Post-operative control
Laser dioptre reduction consultation price: 400 lei
Price of pre-operative investigations, both eyes: 1.000 lei
PRK surgery price, per eye: 3.500 lei

Frequently asked questions about PRK

Is it necessary for my diopters to be stable?

It is advisable that the diopters be stable for at least 1 year before the operation, especially in the case of myopia, where the diopters gradually increase in general until the age of 18.

Young patients should wait until their dioptres stop evolving. Otherwise, the result of the procedure will be affected by the subsequent evolution of the diopters.

If my eyes are healthy, can I have laser surgery?

The absence of any progressive eye disease is an essential condition in eligibility for eye surgery. But it is not always enough. There are other criteria to consider.

The thickness of the cornea (the lens in the front part of the eye) is very important, as vision correction is done by remodeling the tissue of this lens. It follows that a minimum thickness of the cornea is required, beyond which the operation can become risky for the eye.

The diameter of the pupil should not be too large. If the pupils are naturally large, there is a risk of unpleasant visual effects after the operation: halos, bright images at night, especially when driving.

High diopter values may limit the possibility of complete reduction. The results of laser eye surgery for high diopters can be unpredictable and carry a risk of visual complications. In these situations, other intraocular procedures may be recommended to correct vision.

What diseases could prevent me from laser eye surgery?

Evolutionary eye diseases such as: keratoconus, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, severe eye dryness, cataracts, eye inflammations prevent you from laser dioptre reduction surgery. There are other interventions in such situations.

Degenerative or autoimmune diseases such as: diabetes, connective tissue diseases, Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV infection affect the way of postoperative healing and are contraindications for laser operations.

What results should I expect after laser surgery?

The results after the operation are excellent and patients enjoy good vision without glasses. Recovery is in most cases very fast and the patient resumes his activities the next day.

Your expectations must be realistic. The visual acuity depends on the optical system of the eye that is corrected by these interventions but also on the quality of the retina and the optic nerve and other eye structures. The goal of the surgery is for the patient to see without glasses after the surgery, as well as they could see with (properly prescribed) glasses before the surgery.

What complications can occur? Are the surgeries safe?

Laser diopter reduction interventions are considered to be among the safest in surgery in general. All over the world, millions of such procedures are performed annually and their history is already over 40 years old. Meanwhile, technology has advanced enormously, making them safer and faster.

However, you must be aware that there may be risks and possible side effects associated with any medical procedure. Although extremely rare, possible complications that may occur after surgery are: chronic eye dryness, visual halos and fog, undercorrection, overcorrection, flap-related complications, retinal detachment, infection.

The vast majority of complications are treatable and usually resolve within the first few months after surgery.

How long does the effect last? Do the diopters come back after a while?

Laser dioptre reduction is permanent and very stable over time. There is no risk of the previous dioptres returning.

It should be taken into account that the evolution of the eye’s structures over time can bring about a slight change in the diopters, independent of the intervention. It is the case of the lens that loses its elasticity and begins to add diopters for almost after 40-45 years and after 60 to slowly develop cataracts.

In the case of large dioptre reductions, especially on plus, there is a risk of regression by remodeling the eye during healing.

I'm afraid of surgery, what alternatives do I have?

The fear of operations is understandable, but in the case of laser procedures, the interventions are extremely fast and do not involve any discomfort. Although they are done in an operating room with all the related protocols, they can hardly be called “surgical operations” in the sense known to everyone. Patients say almost without exception that they did not realize when it happened and regret not having done the intervention sooner.

In order to see well if you have a refractive error, glasses or contact lenses are necessary according to the prescription of the ophthalmologist.