The surface approach
In PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), the thin surface skin of the cornea (epithelium) is removed, and the excimer laser reshapes the underlying surface. In TransPRK, the laser performs the epithelial removal and reshaping in one seamless no-touch step. The epithelium regrows over about 4–5 days under a protective bandage lens, and the cornea gradually sharpens over the following weeks. The laser treats exactly the same optical zone as LASIK — the difference is purely how the surface is managed.
When PRK is the right choice
PRK shines where a flap would be a liability or where tissue must be conserved: corneas too thin for safe LASIK; eyes with surface irregularities better treated directly; patients in professions or sports where flap trauma is a real risk (armed forces, boxing, martial arts, certain aviation contexts); and eyes needing only modest correction. Its trade-off is recovery: several days of surface discomfort and a slower climb to best vision, typically over 1–4 weeks.
Recovery and results
Days 1–4: bandage lens in place, foreign-body sensation managed with drops and oral medication. Week 1: epithelium healed, vision functional. Weeks 2–4: clarity progressively sharpens. Months: small refinements continue as the surface remodels. Final visual results for equivalent prescriptions are essentially on par with LASIK once healing completes — the difference is the road, not the destination. Haze-prevention drops and strict UV protection (sunglasses outdoors) are part of the protocol.