PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY

Course overview

PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY (PRK) IS A LASER REFRACTIVE PROCEDURE USED TO ABLATE THE CORNEAL STROMA TO CORRECT REFRACTIVE ERRORS. THOUGH NOT PERFORMED AS OFTEN AS LASER IN SITU KERATOMILEUSIS (LASIK), THERE ARE SELECT SITUATIONS IN WHICH PRK MAY BE THE PREFERRED OPTION. THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS THE SURGICAL TECHNIQUE, COMPLICATIONS, AND VISUAL OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH PRK, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE HEALTHCARE TEAM IN EVALUATING AND TREATING PATIENTS WHO UNDERGO PRK.