The History of the PRK procedure revolutionized laser vision correction in 1996 and took over the older RK procedures done by surgeons. PRK is safe, effective and longlasting with results. There may be a brief delay of clear vision but most are able to resume their activities by post-operative day 5. Some patients may not be ideal candidates for LASIK but for PRK if they have high prescriptions or a thin cornea.

The PRK procedure is very safe as it is a cutless non-invasive surgery working on the outside surface of the cornea thereby having a 0% complication rate during surgery. The first step of the procedure involves removing the outer epithelial skin layer of the cornea. This step is painless as the patient has numbing drops in the eye. Next the laser is applies to the stromal layer of the cornea to reshape it to the new curvature to corrects one’s prescription and vision. At the end of the PRK procedure a bandage contact lens is put in the eye and stays in for a week until the new epithelial skin layer heals within 3-5 days. Patients obtain the same sharpness in vision as LASIK. Dr Columbus has performed thousands of PRK procedures to his patients.