How PRK Surgery Is Done: Removing the Surface Layer, Reshaping and the Bandage Lens

The number that changes the conversation is often a thickness. Someone sits through an hour of scans expecting to hear the word LASIK, and instead the surgeon turns a color map of the cornea toward them and explains that the tissue is on the thin side, or that a job or a sport carries too much risk of a knock to the eye. Then comes the alternative: PRK.

Most people have never heard of it, and the first question is rarely about results. It is about mechanics: how PRK surgery is done when there is no flap, what exactly gets removed, how a laser reaches the right layer, and why a contact lens is involved when the whole point was to stop wearing them.

What follows is a plain account, from the numbing drops to the day the bandage lens comes out, with the timelines the evidence supports and the parts that depend on your own eyes and your treating team.

How PRK surgery is done, step by step

PRK stands for photorefractive keratectomy, a laser procedure that reshapes the cornea, the clear front window of the eye, so that light focuses more accurately on the retina. It treats the same refractive errors as LASIK: nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The difference lies entirely in how the surgeon gets to the tissue that needs reshaping.

On the day, you lie on a reclining bed under the laser. Anesthetic drops numb the surface; there are no injections and no general anesthesia. A small spring device called a lid speculum holds the eyelids open so blinking is not a worry. The surgeon then removes the epithelium, the outermost layer of cells covering the cornea, from a central zone a little wider than the area to be treated. That step takes under a minute and is described in detail below.

Next, the excimer laser fires a programmed pattern of ultraviolet pulses onto the exposed surface. You look at a fixation light while a tracker follows small eye movements. The laser stage is measured in seconds rather than minutes. Some surgeons then briefly apply a sponge soaked in a medicine that discourages scar-like haze, followed by a rinse with chilled fluid.

Finally, a soft bandage contact lens goes on, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops are instilled, and you sit up. Cleveland Clinic describes the whole procedure as taking about 15 minutes for both eyes, with most of that time spent on positioning and checks rather than the laser itself. You go home the same day with someone else driving, a set of drops, dark glasses and a follow-up appointment within a day or two.

Why PRK removes the surface layer instead of cutting a flap

Think of the cornea as a five-layer sandwich about half a millimeter thick. On the outside is the epithelium, a skin-like sheet that renews itself constantly, much as the skin on your fingertip does. Beneath it sits Bowman’s layer, a tough membrane, and then the stroma, the thick structural middle that gives the cornea its shape. The laser must reach the stroma, because that is the only layer whose shape can be permanently changed.

LASIK reaches it by cutting a thin hinged flap through the epithelium and the upper stroma, folding it back, lasering underneath, and laying the flap down again. PRK skips the flap altogether. The epithelium is removed, the laser treats the surface of the stroma directly, and the epithelium grows back over the new shape.

That single design choice explains almost everything about the procedure. Because no flap is cut, no stromal tissue is spent on making one, so more corneal thickness is preserved, which matters when the cornea is thin to begin with or the prescription is high. There is no flap to shift or wrinkle if the eye is struck, which is why people in combat sports, contact sports and some occupations are often steered toward PRK. Mayo Clinic lists thin corneas and a lifestyle with a high risk of eye injury among the usual reasons a surgeon suggests PRK over LASIK.

The trade-off is time. A flap seals within hours, so LASIK vision clears quickly. A removed epithelium has to regrow cell by cell across the treated zone, and until it does the eye is uncomfortable and the vision blurred. PRK asks for patience in exchange for structural simplicity.

How the epithelium is removed: brush, alcohol or laser

Surgeons use three broad approaches to lift the epithelium, and patients are often surprised to learn that this step, not the laser, is what most distinguishes one PRK from another.

The mechanical method uses a blunt instrument or a small rotating brush to gently sweep the cells away from a marked central circle. The alcohol-assisted method places a dilute alcohol solution inside a small well on the cornea for a matter of seconds; the alcohol loosens the bond between the epithelium and the layer beneath, so the sheet can be peeled aside with a spatula. A close relative called LASEK keeps that sheet attached at one edge and lays it back in place afterward, though it is no longer living tissue and is eventually replaced by new cells.

The third approach is transepithelial PRK, sometimes shortened to trans-PRK. Here the excimer laser itself removes the epithelium in a first pass, then continues into the stroma in the same session. Nothing touches the eye except light. Advocates point to a smoother edge and shorter procedure; critics note that epithelial thickness varies between people, so the laser has to estimate how much to remove.

Which is better? The honest answer is that comparisons show modest differences in early comfort or healing speed and no consistent difference in vision once the eye has settled. Cochrane’s review of surface and flap procedures, indexed on PubMed, grades much of the comparative evidence as low quality. The choice usually reflects the surgeon’s training, the laser platform and the individual cornea rather than a proven advantage. It is a fair question to ask which method your surgeon uses and why.

How the excimer laser reshapes the cornea

An excimer laser emits pulses of ultraviolet light at a wavelength that breaks the molecular bonds holding corneal tissue together. Each pulse removes a layer thinner than a red blood cell and does so without significant heat, which is why the procedure is often described as sculpting rather than burning. The machine delivers thousands of pulses in a computer-controlled pattern derived from your prescription and corneal maps.

The pattern depends on the error being corrected. A diopter is the unit used to measure the strength of a lens or a refractive error. For nearsightedness, the cornea is too steep, so the laser removes slightly more tissue from the center than the edges, flattening the curve. For farsightedness, it removes a ring of tissue around the center, effectively steepening it. For astigmatism, where the cornea is shaped more like a rugby ball than a football, the laser removes tissue unevenly along one axis to make the surface more spherical. PRK treats astigmatism as routinely as LASIK does.

During the pulses you will hear a rapid clicking and may notice a faint smell, which comes from tissue molecules leaving the surface. Because the eye is numb and the treated tissue has no pain fibers of its own, the sensation is pressure and brightness, not pain. An infrared tracker follows the pupil hundreds of times per second and pauses the laser if the eye drifts too far.

After the last pulse some surgeons hold a small sponge soaked in mitomycin C, a medicine that suppresses the activity of healing cells, on the surface for a few seconds. Its purpose is to reduce the risk of corneal haze, a cloudy scarring response, particularly after higher corrections. Whether it is used, and for how long, is a surgeon’s decision made case by case.

What the bandage contact lens does after PRK

The lens placed on the eye at the end of PRK corrects nothing. It is a plain, soft, highly oxygen-permeable lens with no prescription, and its job is protective. Once the epithelium is removed, millions of nerve endings in the cornea are exposed to air, tears and the friction of the eyelid with every blink. The bandage lens sits over that raw surface like a clear dressing over a graze, dulling the sensation and giving new cells a smooth surface to migrate across.

New epithelium grows in from the edges of the treated zone toward the center. Cleveland Clinic notes that the surface typically closes within about 3 to 5 days, and Mayo Clinic gives a similar range. The lens usually stays in until the surgeon confirms, under the slit-lamp microscope, that the defect has healed. Then it is removed in the clinic with fine forceps. This is not a lens you take out yourself, and it is not one you sleep without; it stays in around the clock.

A few practical points follow from that. Prescribed drops go in over the lens. If the lens falls out early, you do not put it back or replace it with one of your own; you call the clinic, because a lens that has touched a surface outside the eye can carry bacteria to a cornea with no protective barrier. Rubbing the eye can dislodge the lens and disturb the fragile new cells beneath it, which is why many surgeons provide a shield for sleeping in the first nights.

Removing the lens is a small moment that patients often remember. Vision is usually still soft and shifting that day, because the new epithelium is thin and uneven and needs weeks to smooth out.

Is PRK surgery painful? What it feels like during and after

During the procedure itself, no. Anesthetic drops abolish sharp sensation on the corneal surface, so what people report is pressure from the speculum, a cool trickle from rinsing fluid, bright lights and an odd awareness of hands near the face. The mind does more work than the nerves.

The candid part concerns the following days. As the numbing wears off, usually within the first hour, the exposed cornea makes itself known. Descriptions range from gritty and sore to a burning ache with tearing and marked light sensitivity. Cleveland Clinic describes discomfort as most noticeable in the first two to three days and easing as the epithelium closes. The Cochrane review comparing surface laser procedures with LASIK, available on PubMed, confirms what patients say: early pain scores are higher after PRK, and functional vision returns more slowly, although the reviewers found no clear difference in vision at one year.

Several things help, and they are worth arranging before the day rather than after. A dim room and dark sunglasses reduce photophobia, the medical term for painful sensitivity to light. Cold compresses over closed lids soothe without touching the eye. Preservative-free lubricating drops keep the surface wet. Your surgeon will prescribe drops for inflammation and may provide a short-term anti-inflammatory drop for pain; some clinics also discuss oral pain relief. What to use, how often and for how long belongs to that prescription sheet, not to a magazine, and stopping or stretching a drop schedule on your own can affect healing.

People who have had both procedures generally describe LASIK as an uncomfortable evening and PRK as an uncomfortable long weekend. By the time the bandage lens comes out, most describe irritation rather than pain.

Who PRK is usually for, and who is usually asked to wait

Surgeons tend to reach for PRK in a handful of recognizable situations. The cornea is thinner than average, or the prescription is high enough that a flap would leave too little tissue beneath it. The surface is slightly irregular on mapping, so removing the epithelium and treating the surface directly gives a cleaner result. The person boxes, wrestles, plays rugby or serves in a role where a blow to the eye is a realistic risk. Some surgeons also favor PRK when there is a history of dry eye, because it cuts fewer of the corneal nerves that drive tear reflexes, although the evidence there is mixed. PRK is also commonly chosen for touch-up procedures after earlier LASIK, since it avoids lifting an old flap.

Equally important is who is asked to wait, or to consider a different route. The NHS advises that laser eye surgery is generally not offered to people under 21, because the prescription may still be changing, and both Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic list a stable prescription, typically unchanged for a year or more, as a basic requirement. Pregnancy and breastfeeding shift corneal shape and refraction temporarily, so treatment is usually deferred. Active eye infection, significant cataract, keratoconus or other corneal thinning disorders, uncontrolled diabetes and autoimmune conditions that impair wound healing are common reasons to pause or decline.

Medicines that affect healing, a history of severe dry eye, unusually large pupils and a strong dislike of the recovery period all enter the conversation too. None of this is a verdict on the person; it is an assessment of tissue and timing. The final judgment sits with the surgeon who has examined your eyes and seen your scans.

PRK vs LASIK differences that genuinely matter

Marketing tends to frame this as a rivalry. Clinically it is a choice between two ways of reaching the same tissue, each with a characteristic profile. The table sets out the differences that shape the patient experience.

Feature	PRK	LASIK
How the laser reaches the stroma	Epithelium removed, surface treated directly	Hinged flap cut and folded back
Tissue preserved	More; no flap thickness spent	Less; flap uses part of the cornea
Early discomfort	Higher for several days	Usually mild, hours to a day
Functional vision	Days to weeks	Often within a day
Final stabilization	Weeks to a few months	Usually faster
Flap-related risks	None	Present, though uncommon
Corneal haze risk	Present, higher with larger corrections	Rare
Vision at one year	Comparable	Comparable

The last row is the one worth dwelling on. The Cochrane review indexed on PubMed compared the two procedures for nearsightedness and found no clear difference in the proportion of eyes reaching good uncorrected vision at 12 months, while noting that LASIK recovered faster and hurt less early on. The reviewers were candid that the underlying trials were small and of limited quality, so the fairest summary is that neither approach has been shown to deliver better long-term vision than the other.

What differs is the shape of the journey and the distribution of risk. PRK front-loads discomfort and defers clarity; LASIK delivers early clarity and carries flap-specific complications instead. Which profile suits you depends on your corneas, your schedule and your tolerance for a slower start.

PRK recovery timeline: the first days and weeks

Recovery from PRK is less a single event than a series of overlapping phases, and knowing the shape of them makes the slow patches easier to sit through. The ranges below come from Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic descriptions and are typical, not guaranteed.

• Day of surgery: vision is hazy, the eyes water and light feels harsh once the numbing wears off. Most people go home, draw the curtains and sleep.
• Days 1 to 3: the most uncomfortable stretch. Drops go in on schedule, sunglasses stay on indoors, and reading or screens are possible only in short bursts.
• Days 3 to 5: the epithelium usually closes and the bandage lens is removed at a follow-up visit. Pain settles into irritation. Vision may briefly seem worse for a day as the new surface adjusts.
• Weeks 1 to 2: many people return to desk work and, if the surgeon agrees, driving. Vision fluctuates through the day and is often better in the morning.
• Weeks 2 to 6: the new epithelium thickens and smooths. Glare and halos around lights at night gradually fade. Anti-inflammatory drops are typically being tapered on the surgeon’s instructions.
• Months 1 to 3: Cleveland Clinic describes full visual stabilization as taking up to about three months, with higher corrections tending toward the longer end.

Two habits carry most of the weight during this period. The first is unwavering adherence to the drop schedule, including the taper, because inflammation that is under-treated in the early weeks is one of the recognized drivers of haze. The second is ultraviolet protection outdoors for several months; Mayo Clinic advises sunglasses after PRK because UV exposure during healing is associated with haze. Swimming pools, hot tubs, dusty environments and eye makeup are usually off the list until the surgeon lifts the restriction.

Can you drive 5 days after PRK? Work, screens and daily life

Five days is a number people hold onto because it lands right after the bandage lens comes out. Sometimes it works out that way. Often it does not, and no surgeon can promise it in advance.

Driving depends on two things: meeting the legal vision standard in your area and your surgeon’s judgment that the surface has healed enough to be safe. Cleveland Clinic advises not driving until your provider clears you, which for many people falls around the one-week mark, and Mayo Clinic notes that vision may take several weeks to sharpen fully. Night driving deserves particular caution, since glare and halos are common in the early weeks and can make headlights bloom across the windshield long after daytime vision feels acceptable. The practical answer is to plan for someone else to drive for at least the first week, then let the clinic examination decide.

Work follows a similar logic. The NHS says most people can return to work within a few days of laser eye surgery, and for PRK the realistic point is usually once the bandage lens is out and fluctuating vision no longer interferes with the task. Desk-based jobs come back sooner than jobs involving dust, chemicals, fine detail or physical contact. Screens are not harmful to the healing cornea, but concentration lowers blink rate, which dries the surface and blurs vision; short sessions with frequent lubricating drops are far more comfortable than a full day.

Showering is fine with eyes closed. Exercise that does not involve sweat running into the eyes, water or a ball to the face is often permitted early. Flying is generally acceptable once the surgeon is satisfied, with dry cabin air the main nuisance. Every one of these is a question for your follow-up visit, because the answer depends on how your particular epithelium is healing.

Is PRK as risky as LASIK? Complications and the failure rate question

Neither procedure is risk-free, and the risks are not the same. The NHS puts complications from laser eye surgery overall at fewer than 5 percent of cases, most of them manageable rather than sight-threatening. What differs between PRK and LASIK is the type of problem rather than the headline figure.

PRK carries risks tied to an open surface and slow healing. Infection is uncommon but most possible in the days before the epithelium closes, which is why antibiotic drops are used and why a dislodged lens should prompt a call. Corneal haze is a cloudy healing response in the treated zone; it is usually mild and fades, but dense haze can reduce vision and is more likely after large corrections, hence the interest in mitomycin C and strict UV protection. Delayed epithelial healing, prolonged dry eye, glare and halos, and under- or over-correction are all recognized. A rise in eye pressure can occur in some people who use steroid drops for weeks, which is one reason follow-up visits include a pressure check.

LASIK trades those for flap-specific issues: a flap that shifts, wrinkles or grows cells underneath it, and a small long-term vulnerability to displacement after blunt trauma. Dry eye is common after both.

People also ask about a failure rate, and it helps to define what failure would mean. The cornea does not reject the treatment. What can happen is regression, where part of the correction drifts back over months as the surface remodels, or a residual error that leaves you a little short of the target. Both may be addressed with an enhancement procedure if tissue and healing allow. The Cochrane review found comparable visual outcomes for PRK and LASIK at one year, and rates of enhancement vary widely with prescription size, age and surgeon. A reasonable request is to ask your surgeon for their own audited figures for people with a prescription like yours.

What the eye drops after PRK are for

A PRK discharge bag usually holds three or four bottles, and understanding the role of each makes the schedule feel less arbitrary. What follows describes purpose and typical timelines only; how much, how often and when to stop are decisions for the prescribing clinician written on your instruction sheet.

The antibiotic drop exists because the epithelium is the eye’s main barrier against bacteria, and for several days that barrier is missing. It is generally used only until the surface has closed and the bandage lens is out, then stopped. There is no benefit to continuing it beyond that point and some downside in disturbing the normal surface flora.

The corticosteroid or other anti-inflammatory drop has a longer job. Healing after PRK involves activated cells in the stroma laying down new tissue, and when that response overshoots the result is haze. Steroid drops dampen it and are typically tapered over weeks rather than days, sometimes longer for higher corrections. Because they can raise eye pressure in a minority of people, their use is paired with pressure checks at follow-up, and stopping early or extending them on your own both carry risks.

Some surgeons add a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drop for the first day or two purely for pain. Its use is deliberately brief, because prolonged use has been associated with slowed epithelial healing. Preservative-free lubricants round out the set and may be used freely to keep the surface comfortable; they are the one bottle where more is usually fine.

A few housekeeping rules apply to all of them. Wash hands first, leave a gap of a few minutes between different drops so one does not wash out the other, do not let the bottle tip touch the eye, and bring the bottles to follow-up visits so the team can see exactly what you are using.

What people often get wrong about how PRK surgery is done

Because PRK is older than LASIK, a surprising amount of folklore surrounds it. Several ideas deserve gentle correction.

PRK is not an outdated procedure that clinics offer when the good option is unavailable. The laser platforms, eye trackers and treatment profiles used for PRK today are the same ones used for LASIK; only the way the surface is opened differs. Many surgeons choose PRK for their own eyes precisely because there is no flap.

The laser does not burn or cut. An excimer laser removes tissue by breaking molecular bonds with ultraviolet light, leaving negligible heat. The smell people sometimes notice comes from vaporized tissue molecules, not scorching.

You do not watch a scalpel approach your eye. Nothing sharp is used in most techniques, and what you see during treatment is a blurred light and some shadows.

The bandage lens is not there to help you see. It has no prescription. Its role is to shield the healing surface and reduce pain until the epithelium closes.

You are not blind for a week. Vision is blurred and fluctuating in the first days, but most people can move around the house, watch television at a distance and recognize faces. Fine print is what suffers.

The result is not instant, and that is not a sign of a problem. The regrown epithelium is uneven for weeks, which is why vision drifts through the day early on and why final clarity is judged at months, not days.

PRK does treat astigmatism, using the same asymmetric laser pattern as LASIK. And having had LASIK does not rule out PRK later; surface treatment is one of the standard ways surgeons perform an enhancement without lifting an old flap.

Finally, the removed surface layer is not gone for good. The epithelium regenerates completely; only the stromal reshaping beneath it is permanent.

Questions to ask your care team before PRK

A good consultation leaves you knowing not just that PRK was recommended, but why it was recommended for your eyes rather than someone else’s. These questions tend to draw out the reasoning.

• Why are you suggesting PRK for me specifically? Is it corneal thickness, surface shape, my prescription, my occupation, or a combination?
• Which method will you use to remove the epithelium, and what is your reason for that choice?
• Do you plan to use mitomycin C during my procedure, and what in my case makes that appropriate or unnecessary?
• How thick is my cornea now, how much tissue will the treatment remove, and how much will remain?
• What is my realistic target: full independence from glasses, or reduced dependence with reading glasses later in life?
• What does your own follow-up data show for enhancement and regression rates in people with a prescription like mine?
• Which of my current medicines or health conditions could affect healing, and should any be reviewed with my other doctors first?
• What will each drop do, how long will I use it, and when will the taper be adjusted?
• How many follow-up visits should I expect in the first three months, and who do I contact out of hours?
• What would make you stop the procedure on the day or postpone it?
• If the outcome falls short, what are the options, and how long would you wait before considering an enhancement?
• What activities, environments and habits should I avoid, and for how long?

Write the answers down or ask for them in writing. Numbing drops and bright lights are not conducive to remembering detail on the day, and the recovery period runs more smoothly when the reasoning behind each instruction is already clear.

When to call your doctor after PRK

Some discomfort, tearing, light sensitivity and blurred vision are expected in the first days after PRK. A short list of signs falls outside that and warrants a same-day call to your surgical team or, if they cannot be reached, urgent eye care.

• Pain that gets worse rather than better after the third day, or pain that returns after it had settled.
• A sudden or marked drop in vision in either eye, especially in one eye only.
• Increasing redness, thick or colored discharge, or a white or gray spot visible on the cornea.
• The bandage contact lens falling out, tearing or becoming displaced before the clinic has removed it.
• A direct blow or scratch to the eye during the healing period.
• Light sensitivity so severe that you cannot open the eye, particularly if it is worsening.
• New flashes of light, a shower of floaters or a curtain across part of your vision, which are not typical of corneal healing and need prompt assessment regardless of the surgery.
• Nausea, headache and eye ache together, which can accompany a sharp rise in eye pressure.

Infection while the epithelium is open is uncommon but is the complication with the least margin for delay, so clinics would far rather see a false alarm than a late presentation. Keep the after-hours number somewhere you can find it without your glasses. Attend every scheduled follow-up even if the eye feels fine, because haze and pressure changes are usually silent until they are examined for. Any decision about changing drops, adding treatment or planning an enhancement rests with the team that operated and has your scans in front of them.

Frequently asked questions

How painful is PRK surgery?

The procedure itself is not painful because anesthetic drops numb the corneal surface; people describe pressure and bright light rather than pain. The following two to three days are the uncomfortable part, with grittiness, aching, tearing and light sensitivity while the epithelium regrows under the bandage lens. Cleveland Clinic describes discomfort as easing once the surface closes, usually within 3 to 5 days. Your surgeon prescribes drops to manage inflammation and pain during that window.

Is PRK as risky as LASIK?

The overall complication rate is similar, with the NHS estimating complications in fewer than 5 percent of laser eye surgery cases, but the types of risk differ. PRK carries a small risk of infection while the surface is open, corneal haze and slower healing. LASIK carries flap-related risks such as displacement or wrinkling. Neither has been shown to produce better vision than the other at one year in the Cochrane review indexed on PubMed.

Can I drive 5 days after PRK?

Not without clearance from your surgeon. Driving requires meeting the legal vision standard and a healed enough surface, which Cleveland Clinic suggests is often around a week but varies between individuals. Vision commonly fluctuates for weeks after PRK, and glare or halos can make night driving unsafe even when daytime vision seems adequate. Arrange alternative transport for at least the first week and let the follow-up examination decide.

What is the failure rate of PRK?

There is no standard definition of failure for PRK, so quoted figures vary. What can happen is regression, where some correction drifts back as the cornea remodels, or a residual error short of target; both may be addressed with an enhancement if tissue allows. The Cochrane review found outcomes comparable with LASIK at one year. Enhancement rates depend heavily on prescription size and age, so ask your surgeon for their own figures.

Is PRK surgery painful when the bandage contact lens comes out?

Removal itself is quick and usually painless, done with fine forceps at the slit-lamp microscope after numbing drops. Some people notice a brief increase in irritation or a temporary dip in vision that day, because the new epithelium is thin and no longer cushioned by the lens. This typically settles within a day or two. The lens should never be removed at home, and if it falls out you should call the clinic.

What is the PRK recovery timeline for vision?

Vision is blurred for the first several days, improves noticeably once the bandage lens is removed around days 3 to 5, and then fluctuates through the day for a few weeks as the epithelium smooths. Many people manage desk work and, with clearance, driving within one to two weeks. Cleveland Clinic describes full stabilization as taking up to about three months, with larger corrections tending toward the longer end of that range.

What are the main PRK vs LASIK differences?

LASIK cuts a hinged flap to reach the stroma; PRK removes the epithelium and treats the surface directly. PRK preserves more tissue and has no flap risks, which suits thin corneas and contact sports, but early recovery is more uncomfortable and slower. LASIK gives faster clear vision with flap-specific risks. A Cochrane review found no clear difference in vision at one year, so the choice rests on corneal anatomy and lifestyle.

Why is a bandage contact lens used after PRK?

The bandage contact lens protects the exposed cornea after the epithelium has been removed. It reduces pain by shielding exposed nerve endings from the eyelid and air, and gives new cells a smooth surface to grow across. It has no prescription and does not correct vision. It stays in around the clock until the surgeon confirms the surface has healed, typically 3 to 5 days, and is then removed in the clinic.

Can PRK treat astigmatism?

Yes. Astigmatism means the cornea is curved more steeply in one direction than the other, and the excimer laser corrects it by removing tissue unevenly along that axis to make the surface more spherical. The same treatment profiles are used for PRK and LASIK; only the way the surface is opened differs. Very high or irregular astigmatism may need a different approach, which the surgeon assesses from corneal mapping.

What happens if I rub my eye after PRK?

Rubbing can dislodge the bandage contact lens and disturb the fragile new epithelial cells growing across the treated zone, which may delay healing, increase pain and raise the risk of infection or an uneven surface. This is why many surgeons provide a protective shield for sleeping in the first nights. If you rub the eye by accident and notice increased pain, blurred vision or a displaced lens, contact your surgical team the same day.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.