Excimer Treatment

Both PRK and PTK are performed on an outpatient basis with the use of topical anesthetic drops. You will thus, be awake during the procedure. A miotic drop is instilled in the eye to be treated, 30 minutes prior to the PRK procedure, to constrict the pupil. You will lie face up under the laser. The surgeon will key your refractive correction into the laser's computer. He will then ask you to fix your gaze on a target in the laser. The surgeon will then perform one or two familiarization sessions to help you get used to the laser target. He will then gently remove the thin outer layer of the cornea, called epithelium, after inserting a speculum to separate your lids.

He will activate the system to perform the corneal sculpting. This takes 15 to 30 seconds. The total time taken including positioning your eye under the laser is about 15 minutes. There is no pain during the procedure. The surgeon will then patch your eye. You should make arrangements for a relative or friend to take you home after the procedure, as no hospitalization is required.