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At the Kraff Eye Institute, Dr.Colman Kraff is committed to using the most advanced technology in corrective eye surgery, to safely and effectively improve his patients vision. Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), or PRK vision correction, is a surgical procedure similar to LASIK. At our office, conveniently located in the heart of the Chicago Loop, advanced surface ablation surgery, or ASA surgery is performed with tremendous success. PRK is a suitable procedure for patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.
Approved by the FDA in 1996, Photorefractive Keratectomy, or PRK, is a surgical procedure that is routinely performed at the Kraff Eye Institute. PRK laser eye surgery can help individuals who have myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and high levels of astigmatism. Advanced surface ablation surgery (ASA) is also an excellent alternative for patients who don't qualify for LASIK due to thin corneas or large pupils. During the PRK procedure, the surface cells of the cornea are gently removed, once the underlying corneal tissue is exposed, the cornea is reshaped with a laser using the iDesign advanced wavefront guided technology. Once completed, a bandage contact lens is placed on the cornea to aid in healing and to enhance comfort during the initial healing process.
On the day of surgery, we advise patients they should plan on being in our office for about 2 hours. This will give the patient time to check-in, have additional testing done if needed, allow time for a mild oral sedative to help relax you, perform the procedure, and then review all post-operative information.
The main difference between a LASIK and PRK procedure is how we prepare the cornea for the actual LASER treatment. The patient will be given several sets of numbing drops to help create a painless procedure. Like with LASIK, we treat one eye at a time. Dr. Kraff will use a small instrument to gently keep your eyelid open. With PRK, instead of making a flap on the surface of the cornea, Dr. Kraff will use a surgical instrument which will gently brush off the surface cells of the cornea. This takes about 5 to 10 seconds and the patient will feel some mild vibrations but no pain or discomfort. Once the cells are brushed off, Dr. Kraff will then use the laser to re-shape the cornea to improve your vision. The laser treatment is usually less than 1 minute. Once completed, Dr. Kraff will place a soft bandage contact lens on the eye. He will then begin the same process on the other eye. The entire procedure, for both eyes, is around 10 minutes.
After the procedure is over, your post-operative instructions will be reviewed in detail and Dr. Kraff will take one final look at your eyes before you leave. The patient is encouraged to go home and try and sleep as much as possible. Once the surface of the cornea is healed, Dr. Kraff will remove the bandage contact lens. The lens is usually removed within 2 to 3 days post-surgery.
After about 3 days, enough of the epithelium has regenerated that Dr. Kraff will go ahead and remove the bandage contact lens. Once removed, the patient can go back to most of their normal activities.
During the first 2 to 3 days following PRK, a patient is encouraged to do very minimal activities; no work, no reading, no staring at computer screens, no exercise. There can be some discomfort during the initial healing period, but a patient will be given oral pain medication to help minimize the pain.
With LASIK, the flap that is created works like a natural band aid to help expediate the healing process. With PRK, since there is no flap, the healing process is different. As mentioned above, once the procedure is completed, Dr. Kraff will place a soft bandage contact lens on the patient’s eye. This lens will stay in place over the first couple of days while the epithelium, or surface layer of the cornea, heals. The epithelium is the top layer of the cornea which is gently brushed off prior to the LASER treatment.
PRK surgery can improve the vision of patients with a variety of refractive errors. At the Kraff Eye Insitute, we determine if our patients qualify for the PRK procedure and also offer Custom PRK. Please, learn more about our PRK procedures below and schedule a consultation to see if you are a good candidate.
To schedule a PRK consultation, please call (312) 444-1111. To inquire about other services, please fill out our Vision Correction Consultation form.
Schedule ConsultationTo determine if PRK, or advanced surface ablation, is right for you, a consultation with Dr.Kraff is the way to go. On the day of your consultation, you should plan on spending about an hour at our office. During your time at our office, you will undergo several tests and measurements, including:
Dr.Kraff will examine your eyes, and along with these tests and measurements, he will determine if you are a good candidate for refractive eye surgery. One of our refractive surgery counselors will go over the procedure with you and answer any questions you might have. The refractive counselor will also discuss scheduling and financing options with you. If you choose to proceed with surgery, you will return to our office for a preoperative exam. At the pre-op, you will have more in-depth measurements performed, including a dilated eye exam. These tests will help Dr. Kraff calculate your exact refractive treatment. Contact lens wearers will need to refrain from wearing contacts for one week prior to the pre-op exam.
In addition to the photorefractive keratectomy procedure (PRK), the Kraff Eye Institute also provides the following surgical alternatives:
At the Kraff Eye Institute, we pride ourselves on always performing procedures that we feel are the safest for our patients. Dr. Kraff was part of the initial FDA clinical trial that resulted in the approval of both PRK and LASIK in this country. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Kraff is committed to using the most advanced technology to deliver his patients the safest, and most effective laser vision treatments that are available. Using the iDesign 2.0 technology, Dr. Kraff can customize a patient's treatment based on their specific visual needs. You will not find another doctor with the amount of experience or expertise at Dr.Colman Kraff.
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The cost of photorefractive keratectomy can range from $1900 to $2800 per eye, depending on what procedure is safest and most appropriate for you. Dr. Kraff will recommend the procedure that will provide you with the best results and our refractive counselors will go over payment and financing options.
Kraff Eye Institute has researched the best credit options and is proud to announce a partnership with CareCredit, America’s top patient payment program. CareCredit allows you to start your vision care procedures at once – then pay for it at your convenience with low monthly payments that are easy to fit in your monthly budget.
Please call our office at (312) 757-7335 for more details.
Specializing In Refractive Eye Surgeries For Over 25 Years
Dr. Colman Kraff has been at the forefront of LASER eye surgery since the beginning. Having personally performed over 70,000 LASER procedures, he is one of the most reputable and skilled surgeons anywhere.
Dr. Kraff works closely with industry manufactures as a principle investigator and consultant. As a result, he actively participates in the most recent FDA trials to ensure the best and most precise technology is available to patients.
Dr. Kraff was born and raised in Chicago. He enjoys running and photography, as well as, spending time with his wife, children, and granddaughter.
You can simply CALL US or make an appointment using the online forms at the links below
312-444-1111Schedule Consultation
Since the LASER used to correct a patient’s vision is the same between LASIK and PRK, outcome results will be the same once the healing process is complete. As in LASIK, it is uncommon to need an enhancement procedure with PRK. Overall, this is needed less than 3% of the time.
Since PRK involves removing the surface cells of the cornea the healing process and recovery time is different than with LASIK. When the procedure is completed, Dr. Kraff will place a soft bandage contact lens onto the patient's eye. This lens will remain in place for several days while the cells of the cornea heal and regrow. The bandage contact lens will assist in the healing process while also providing additional comfort to the patient.
Generally, there is no risk related to flying after PRK surgery, however, it is recommended that you refrain from air travel until your bandage contact lenses are removed by Dr. Kraff. It is recommended to aggressively use artificial tear drops while flying due to the dryness of airplanes.
If there are visual changes post-surgery, or the results can be improved, Dr. Kraff will assess whether an enhancement procedure is safe for a patient. If the patient continues to fall within treatable perimeters, PRK can be performed again.
PRK and Lasik are very similar, in the manner that they both use a laser to reshape the corneal tissue to correct an individual's refractive error. The difference between the two is the method in which the doctor gains access to the corneal tissue. With the LASIK procedure, a flap is created on the surface of the cornea, the flap is lifted and the corneal tissue is reshaped with a laser, the flap is placed back over the cornea and realigned. With PRK, no flap is created, the corneal tissue is accessed by removing the surface cells of the cornea, the same laser is used to shape the corneal tissue. A bandage contact lens is placed on the eye to assist in the healing of the surface cells and aid in the comfort of the patient during the healing process.
Just like any medical procedure, there are risks but, PRK is generally a very safe and effective procedure with great outcomes.
Here at the Kraff Eye Institute, we pride ourselves on always doing what we feel is safest for the patient. Certain structural characteristics can sometimes disqualify a patient from being a good candidate for surgery. It is important when looking for a doctor to go with someone who is more concerned with safety then making a profit. If Dr. Kraff feels that surgery is not safe, based off your measurements, he will discuss safe alternative options if appropriate.
