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Contact our Chicago area practice to find out if PRK surgery is the right treatment for you.

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Animation of the LASIK and PRK ProceduresServing Chicago’s PRK Surgery Needs at Kovach Eye Institute

PRK surgery is a laser vision correction treatment designed to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses and contact lenses. At Kovach Eye Institute in the Chicago area, we typically use PRK surgery to treat nearsighted patients who are not good candidates for LASIK. However, this treatment can also be used on patients with low to moderate amounts of farsightedness and astigmatism.

Eye Tracking – AnimationThe PRK Procedure

Anesthetic eye drops are applied to our Chicago area patients' eyes prior to PRK surgery. The top layer of the cornea, the corneal epithelium, is then removed, exposing the tissue underneath to the excimer laser. The computer controlled laser is programmed to remove a precise amount of corneal tissue during the PRK surgery to produce optimal visual results. For the majority of patients, about 5 to 10 percent of the cornea must be removed. As the PRK patient heals, the outer layer of the cornea regrows and covers the area that had been removed for treatment.

After PRK Surgery

PRK surgery does not require a hospital stay, and patients can return to work within a couple of days. Side effects and complications can occur, and patients are encouraged to consult with their doctor following treatment. While most of our Chicago area patients experience 20/40 vision or better after PRK surgery, individual results do vary. Patients over 40 may still need glasses for close vision after PRK surgery. For more information about PRK surgery, read answers to frequently asked PRK questions we hear at our practice.

PRK Treatment – Diagrams


PRK Animation

To find out if you are a good candidate for PRK, contact our Chicago area practice. A PRK surgery consultation can lead you one step closer to clearer vision.

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