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ophthalmology
PRK is a refractive laser eye surgery in which the corneal epithelium is removed and an excimer laser reshapes the underlying corneal stroma to correct myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. PRK predates LASIK and remains the preferred surface-ablation technique for patients with thin corneas, occupational requirements that contraindicate a corneal flap (military, contact sports), or borderline topography that makes a flap risky. Recovery is slower and more uncomfortable than LASIK because the epithelium has to heal over the treated cornea — typically 3-5 days with a bandage contact lens — but biomechanical integrity of the cornea is preserved.
PRK was the first widely-adopted excimer laser refractive procedure (FDA-approved 1995). Modern PRK is a quick outpatient procedure under topical anaesthesia: a brush, alcohol solution, or laser removes the corneal epithelium, the excimer laser ablation is performed in seconds to minutes per eye, and a bandage contact lens protects the eye while the epithelium regenerates over 3-5 days. Mitomycin C is commonly applied at the end of the procedure in higher corrections to reduce haze formation.
PRK is typically priced 10-20% below LASIK at the same clinic due to lower equipment cost (no femtosecond flap creation). Quoted prices usually cover pre-operative topography and pachymetry, the procedure, the bandage contact lens, and short-term follow-up. Mitomycin C application may be a small additional charge in some markets. Enhancement procedures (typically allowed within 12-24 months) may be free or discounted depending on the clinic's policy.
Average recovery for PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) is 7 days. Individual recovery varies — always follow your surgeon’s specific guidance.
Immediate
First 24–48 hours post-procedure. Monitoring, anaesthesia recovery, initial pain management. Most clinics expect you to remain on-site or nearby.
Early recovery
Wound care, swelling or bruising peaks, restricted activity. Typical window for follow-up visits and drain removal if applicable. Travel is usually not advised.
Intermediate recovery
Gradual return to non-strenuous daily activity. Many international patients fly home during this window. Surgeon may require medical clearance for long-haul travel.
Full recovery
Return to full activity, exercise, and work. Final results may still be settling. Final follow-up with local doctor recommended.
Day 0: procedure completed under topical anaesthesia; bandage contact lens placed; sunglasses required outdoors. Vision is blurred and patients should not drive home.
Days 1-4: peak discomfort, especially day 2-3. Foreign-body sensation, photophobia, and tearing are common. Prescribed analgesia and lubricating drops are essential. Vision improves slowly and is typically usable but blurred during this period.
Day 4-7: epithelium regenerates; the bandage contact lens is removed at the day-4 or day-5 follow-up. Vision begins improving more rapidly thereafter.
Weeks 2-4: vision continues to refine. Some patients experience halos and starbursts at night, which usually settle.
Month 1-3: final refractive stabilisation. Most patients achieve 20/20 or 20/25 visual acuity by month 3. Mild dry eye is common during this period and is managed with lubricating drops.
Month 3-12: continued slow refinement. Enhancement (a second laser procedure for residual refractive error) is generally available between months 3 and 12 if needed.
PRK is a less common medical-tourism procedure than LASIK because of the slower visual recovery and the requirement to wear a bandage contact lens for 3-5 days. International patients should plan for 5-7 days in country to cover the procedure and the day-5 bandage-lens-removal review. Flying after PRK is generally permitted once the epithelium has healed and the bandage lens has been removed; some surgeons restrict swimming and dusty environments for several weeks.
A notable advantage for medical tourists is that PRK does not produce a permanent corneal flap, meaning there is no lifelong risk of flap dislocation from impact. Patients in contact sports or with occupations involving high G-forces or potential eye trauma should specifically discuss PRK with their surgeon.
Bar length shows how many clinics in our registry offer prk (photorefractive keratectomy) in each country. Shading shows the verification status mix. International price range is $1,200–$3,500 USD across all countries; we do not currently hold per-country clinic pricing suitable for side-by-side comparison.
Browse all destinations offering PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)→
2 clinics in our registry
Verified
Accreditations, corporate registration, and published reviews independently checked against primary sources.
Partially verified
Some fields confirmed from primary sources; others self-reported by the clinic and awaiting verification.
Unverified
Listing is based on public information but has not yet been independently verified against primary sources.
Flagged
Credible concerns identified. Red flags are documented on the clinic page. We never soften or remove warnings.
Ankara, Turkey·Est. 2005·Verified 2y ago
A dedicated ophthalmology hospital in Ankara offering LASIK, PRK, and lens replacement procedures. The hospital uses Wavelight and VisuMax laser platforms. Published pricing includes pre- and post-operative consultations.
Seoul, South Korea·Est. 2008·Verified 2y ago
A dedicated ophthalmology clinic in Gangnam, Seoul specialising in LASIK and SMILE refractive surgery. The clinic uses Carl Zeiss VisuMax and Schwind AMARIS laser platforms. South Korea is one of the world's highest-volume markets for laser eye surgery.
There is typically meaningful discomfort during days 1-3 — described as a foreign-body sensation, similar to having sand in the eye. Prescribed analgesia and frequent lubricating drops help substantially. By day 4-5 most patients are comfortable. The procedure itself is painless under topical anaesthesia.
PRK produces equivalent final visual outcomes to LASIK in most studies (Cochrane Database, 2017) but takes longer to achieve them. The main advantage of PRK is biomechanical: no corneal flap is created, so there is no risk of flap dislocation later in life. The main disadvantages are slower recovery and more discomfort in the first few days. Modern femtosecond LASIK has narrowed the safety gap considerably.
Sometimes. Patients with thin corneas, borderline topography, large pupils, occupational requirements that exclude flaps, or high-impact-sport involvement may be PRK candidates when LASIK is contraindicated. A corneal topography and pachymetry assessment will identify whether your corneas can safely accommodate the procedure.
Most surgeons advise no driving for 5-7 days post-PRK until vision has substantially recovered and any double vision or significant blur has resolved. Some patients can drive earlier; the test is whether you can read a number plate from 20 metres with the operated eye.
PRK is not reversible in the sense of restoring the cornea to its original shape, but the lack of a permanent flap means the cornea retains better biomechanical integrity than after LASIK. If a refractive surprise occurs, an enhancement procedure can address it.
PRK is typically priced 10-20% below LASIK at the same clinic because the equipment cost is lower (no femtosecond flap creation). Total cost per eye varies by country and clinic.
Yes — PRK is FDA-approved for the correction of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The excimer laser ablation pattern can be calculated to address all three refractive errors in the same procedure, provided pre-operative pachymetry confirms adequate corneal thickness for the planned correction.
Final refraction typically stabilises at 1-3 months post-op. A small proportion of patients experience long-term regression toward myopia, particularly in higher corrections. Enhancement procedures are available between 3-12 months post-op if a refractive surprise persists.
Glossary entries associated with prk (photorefractive keratectomy)
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) is a variant of LASIK Eye Surgery. See the parent procedure for the broader category context.
Other ophthalmology procedures in our registry