PRK Eye Surgery for Myopia (Nearsightedness) in Chicago, IL

How we can help with a near-sightedness vision condition

Photorefractive Keratectomy, also known as PRK, is a safe and effective treatment which uses a laser to remove a microscopic amount of tissue from the cornea. By removing tissue from the cornea, it allows the light that passes through the eye to focus properly on the retina. The software and technology used here at our practice allow us to treat patients who have high levels of myopia. Dr. Kraff has performed over 70,000 LASER treatments making him one of the most skilled surgeons in the world.

Step 1 - Consultation

The first step in finding out if surgery is a safe treatment option for you is to come in for a no-cost, no obligation, consultation. During this exam, you will meet with a Refractive Counselor who will perform a series of measurements. These measurements will include taking photos of your corneas (corneal topographies), measuring the thickness of your corneas, looking at your refractive error, and checking your vision in your glasses and/or contact lenses. The counselor will then discuss the different surgery options for you. You will then meet with Dr. Kraff who will look over the measurements and let you know if surgery is an option. If you decide to move forward with treatment, the Refractive Counselor can then help you look at dates and times for surgery.

Step 2 - Pre-op

If surgery is determined to be a safe option for you, you will need to have a dilated pre-op exam prior to the day of your treatment. If you wear contact lenses, you will need to be out of your lenses anywhere from1 to 4 weeks (sometimes longer) leading up to the final measurements and surgery. Once out of the lenses, a pre-op exam will be done to get all the specific, detailed, measurements of your corneas. The measurements performed at your initial consultation are meant only to be a screening evaluation to see if you fall within treatable parameters for surgery. We will also dilate your eyes at the pre-op exam so that Dr. Kraff can get a better look at the internal health of the eyes. Once completed, Dr. Kraff will confirm if surgery is a safe option for you and will answer any questions you have. You will then meet with one of our surgical coordinators who will go over everything you’ll need to know for the day of surgery.

Step 3 - Surgery

On the day of surgery, you should plan on being in the office for about 2 hours and you’ll need a way of getting home without driving yourself. After checking in and going over paperwork and collecting payment, you will be given an oral sedative to help you relax. During the treatment, you will be given several sets of topical numbing drops to ensure a pain-free surgery.

A small instrument will first be used to help gently keep your eyelids open during surgery. Dr. Kraff will use an instrument that will quickly and gently brush off the surface layer of the cornea known as the epithelium. Once removed, a LASER will remove a microscopic amount of tissue from the cornea. This takes only a matter of seconds, and you will not feel any pain or discomfort as the LASER is treating.

Upon completion, a soft, bandage contact lens, will be placed on the eye to help expedite the healing process. We will then treat the 2nd eye in the exact way that the 1st eye was treated.

After surgery, you will then be taken into a recovery room where Dr. Kraff will take 1 final look. We will also go over all your immediate post-op care instructions and you’ll be encouraged to go home and try and sleep as much as possible. A patient should plan on laying low for 2 to 3 days to allow for healing. Once healed, Dr. Kraff will remove the soft bandage contact lens and you should be able to return to most of your normal activities.