PRK in Houston

PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) eye surgery is the predecessor of the LASIK procedure. Like LASIK, PRK is a refractive surgery that uses a laser to help correct farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism. PRK even has comparable success rates with LASIK.

So why should you choose PRK in Houston over LASIK in Houston, or vice versa? The short answer is that PRK is better for patients who have dry eyes or thin corneas. The long answer requires a more in-depth look at PRK laser vision correction.

About the PRK eye surgery procedure

If your doctor recommends PRK eye surgery, one of the first things that they will do is use a corneal mapping device to measure your cornea’s curve, map its contours, and calculate your cornea’s thickness. These steps are standard for most procedures involving the cornea, including LASIK.

How PRK in Houston is Different from LASIK

So far, the PRK procedure mirrors that of LASIK. As mentioned, PRK eye surgery is the predecessor to LASIK, but it is at this point that the two diverge. Where in LASIK a doctor would create a corneal flap in order to reshape the cornea, in PRK they remove the outer layer of the cornea entirely.

Recovery After PRK Eye Surgery

Immediately after PRK eye surgery in Houston, your surgeon will have you rest. Before you leave, your eye will be covered by a contact lens for comfort. Once this step is completed, you are free to go home with a designated driver. Your doctor will prescribe eye drops to help the eye heal faster, and they may also prescribe pain medication if needed.

While removing the outer layer of the cornea doesn’t make the outcome of the PRK procedure any different from the outcome LASIK, it does increase recovery time. During the LASIK procedure, the corneal flap is simply put back into place; after PRK, the epithelial cells that covered the surface of your eye require a few extra recovery days to regenerate.

Within a few days after PRK your contact lens will be removed at your post-operative appointment. While the recovery from PRK eye surgery may seem long, patients agree the benefits are more than worth it.

Benefits of PRK eye surgery

While nobody wants to wait any longer than they have to for clearer vision, PRK eye surgery in Houston allows patients who would otherwise not make good candidates for LASIK achieve the same clear vision as LASIK patients.

The dry eyes and/or thin corneas of some patients make it dangerous or difficult to successfully create a corneal flap, making doctor’s hesitant to recommend his/her patient for LASIK surgery.

Doctors are also hesitant to recommend LASIK to, especially active patients, as they pose the potential issue of dislodging their corneal flap post-surgery, which can lead to complications or the need for more surgery.

The High Success Rate of PRK in Houston

PRK eye surgery has a very high success rate. Waiting a few extra days for your PRK recovery can lead to year after year of clear vision and a vastly improved quality of life.

Meet the Experienced PRK Surgeons at Eye Center of Texas

Dr. Yasir Ahmed, M.D., is from Baltimore, MD and graduated with a medical degree from Brown University Alpert Medical School and gained additional experience at the esteemed Penn State and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.  Dr. Ahmed completed his medical internship at Harvard’s Mount Auburn Hospital (2012) and his ophthalmology residency at Penn State (2013).

Dr. Mark Mayo, M.D., is a native Houstonian. He grew up in Spring Branch and is a graduate of Stratford High School. He attended the University of Texas at Austin where he was accepted into the Plan II Interdisciplinary Honors Programs.

Dr. Edward Wade, M.D., F.A.C.S., a native of El Paso, Texas, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Illinois and was awarded the Bronze Tablet Award, a distinction given to only the top 2 percent of the class.

Looking for PRK in Houston? See the experts.

At Eye Center of Texas, we have years of experience with PRK, LASIK, and other refractive surgeries in Houston and offer the safest, most advanced PRK eye surgery techniques and technology. We are committed to our patients and to making sure that any and all of our vision correction procedures improve their quality of life.

Contact us today at 713-395-1515 or request an appointment online for expert solutions for PRK eye surgery in Houston.

Related PRK and Vision Correction Blog Posts

• Difference Between LASIK and PRK
• PRK Enhancement
• How Long Does Laser Eye Surgery Last?
• Eye Strain from your Cell Phone
• Scratched Cornea Symptoms

Related Treatments at The Eye Center of Texas

• LASIK in Houston
• ICL Eye Surgery
• Near Vision Lens Exchange
• Houston Cataracts
• Learn about Common Eye Diseases