TransPRK (trans-epithelial photorefractive keratectomy) surgery is a no-touch, no-alcohol, no-scrape, all-laser treatment. This revolutionary procedure is designed to help people with refractive errors, particularly nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Asian Eye Institute has doctors who specialize in performing TransPRK on eligible patients.
As a no-touch laser eye surgery, the TransPRK procedure uses a specialized laser to remove your epithelium (the outermost layer of the cornea). The same laser will then be used to reshape the cornea to correct your refractive error. Finally, the surgeon inserts a bandage contact lens over the cornea to protect it during recovery. It’s a safe, fast, and effective procedure with a 98% success rate.
TransPRK is ideal for patients with thinner corneas or those engaged in contact sports, as it's a "no-touch" procedure, which means that the surgeon uses only laser to remove the outermost layer of the cornea. Unlike LASIK, this TransPRK avoids creating a corneal flap, which eliminates flap-related complications. While recovery is longer than LASIK, it ensures a more stable correction.
Side effects are common in eye surgeries like TransPRK. Temporary side effects include discomfort, light sensitivity, and blurry vision during the initial healing period. Patients might also experience dry eyes or halos. These are typically managed with medication and resolve as the eye recovers, leading to clearer vision.
TransPRK surgery effectively corrects common refractive errors including myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. By precisely reshaping the corneal surface without creating a flap, it helps light focus correctly, improving overall vision for eligible patients.
The TransPRK procedure itself is very quick, typically taking only a few minutes per eye for the laser application. Including preparation and post-procedure checks, your total time at the clinic will be longer, but the actual laser time is minimal.
Initial recovery for TransPRK typically involves blurry vision and discomfort for 3-5 days as the surface layer heals. Full visual recovery can take several weeks to a few months as the vision stabilizes and clears completely.
During the procedure, anesthetic eye drops are applied to ensure no pain, although you might still feel slight pressure. After surgery, some discomfort, irritation, or foreign body sensation is common, but this is manageable with prescribed eye drops and usually subsides within a few days.
To prepare for TransPRK, you’ll need to stop wearing contact lenses for about 14 days before your pre-operative assessment and surgery. Do not wear makeup, perfume, cologne, or aftershave on the day of the surgery. You should also arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure and plan for adequate rest during recovery. All these and other reminders will be discussed by your doctor before your surgery.
TransPRK is called a “no-touch” eye surgery because a special laser directly removes the outer layer of the cornea and reshapes the eye without the need for any surgical instruments to touch the eye or create a corneal flap. This offers a flap-free solution for vision correction.
