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Uncompromising Safety for a Life Without Limits

Laughing woman covering one eye with her hand

In brief

What
Trans-PRK works on the corneal surface, without an incision and without contact: the excimer laser removes the epithelium and reshapes the cornea in a single pass.
For whom
Short-sightedness and astigmatism, also with thin corneas; people for whom maximum stability matters.
Duration
A few minutes per eye; bandage contact lens for 3 to 5 days.
Back to work
After 4 to 5 days; the final result develops over weeks.
Price
€1,700 per eye (wavefront €3,000), fixed price incl. 12 months of aftercare and re-treatment within 12 months. From €33/month.
Not suitable
Keratoconus, unstable prescription, pregnancy; if you need to be fit for work immediately, Femto-LASIK or SmartSight is the better choice.

An active lifestyle in and around Vienna challenges your eyes. Whether you’re climbing on the Rax, training at a martial arts club, or need to be 100% ready for action as an emergency responder: a blow or pressure to the eye must never have surgical consequences.

With procedures like Femto-LASIK, a corneal flap is cut. Even though it heals extremely securely, a theoretical residual risk remains in the event of massive trauma (blow to the eye). Trans-PRK eliminates this risk 100%. Since no deep incision is made, your eye remains as stable after healing as if it had never been operated on.

The Medical Masterclass: The One-Step Principle with SmartPulse®

Watch: how Trans-PRK works

In one step, the excimer laser removes the top layer of the cornea (epithelium) and reshapes the cornea underneath without contact. A bandage contact lens then protects the eye until the epithelium has grown back. SCHWIND calls the procedure SmartSurfACE.Animation: SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions

Many patients read online about old surface methods (LASEK, PRK) where the eye was softened with alcohol and the top cell layer was mechanically scraped off. That’s a thing of the past with us.

Smiling older man at an eye examination, the doctor's hand on his shoulder

We use the SmartSurfACE® technology of the Schwind Amaris 1050RS:

  • One-Step Ablation: Older lasers simply removed a blanket 50 micrometers of tissue. Our laser “knows” that the cell layer is thicker at the edge than in the center. It removes the epithelium and the underlying corneal tissue (for diopter correction) in a single, flowing step. This prevents the cornea from drying out during surgery.
  • SmartPulse®: The software uses a revolutionary geometric model that polishes the treated surface as smooth as glass. This massively accelerates cell regrowth compared to older methods.
  • The CXL Upgrade (Trans-PRK Xtra): For borderline thin corneas, we can combine Trans-PRK in the same session with crosslinking (corneal strengthening through UV light) to biomechanically “seal” the cornea for the rest of your life.

The Truth About Healing: A Short-Term Sacrifice for Lifelong Stability

At EyeLaser Vienna, we don’t sugarcoat anything. Transparency is our top priority. While the procedure itself is absolutely painless, Trans-PRK differs significantly from Femto-LASIK in the healing phase.

Close-up of a woman's brown eye with long eyelashes

Why does it hurt after surgery?

The laser removes the top cell layer (epithelium). Fine nerve endings lie in this layer. Until the body has regenerated this layer (which takes about 3 to 5 days), these nerve endings are unprotected. This is comparable to a harmless but painful abrasion.

Your 72-Hour Survival Guide

Day 0 (Surgery Day)

After lasering, you receive a soft bandage contact lens in your eye that acts like a protective bandage.

Day 1 to 3 (The Rest Phase)

The eye usually reacts with severe burning, extreme tearing, and light sensitivity. Our advice: Darken your bedroom. Listen to podcasts or audiobooks instead of watching Netflix. Cool the eye area (without pressure) and strictly use the pain-relieving drops we prescribed.

Day 4 to 5 (The Turning Point)

The epithelium has closed under the bandage lens. You come to our office for the first follow-up. The doctor removes the protective lens. The burning stops almost instantly.

From Week 1

The pain is gone, vision gets sharper day by day. Crystal-clear final stability is usually achieved after 1 to 3 months.

Haze Prevention: Our Strict Medical Protocol

The biggest risk with surface treatments is so-called “haze”—a milky clouding of the cornea due to scarring. To prevent this, at EyeLaser we implement an uncompromising medical protocol on three levels:

Close-up of a woman's brown eye with long eyelashes
  1. Intraoperative (Mitomycin C): While you’re still on the operating table, we apply the medication Mitomycin C (MMC) to the cornea for a few seconds. It blocks scar formation at the cellular level.
  2. Postoperative (Cortisone & Vitamin C): You receive a precise drop schedule with cortisone-containing eye drops. We also recommend high-dose vitamin C (e.g., 1000 mg/day), as it massively supports healthy collagen formation in the cornea.
  3. Lifestyle (100% UV Protection): UV radiation is the main trigger for haze. You must wear high-quality sunglasses outdoors for the first 3 to 6 months—even under cloudy Viennese skies.

Your healing

How your healing after Trans-PRK progresses

Realistic guide values from practice. Your personal course is closely monitored at the follow-up checks.

DAY 0–3

Noticeable irritation, pain possible. Bandage lens and drops help you through this phase.

DAY 4–7

The corneal surface has closed, vision improves daily.

WEEK 2–4

Visual acuity approaches the final result, sport possible again.

MONTH 1–3

Final result reached, accompanied by the follow-up checks.

Transparency

What are the risks, and how do we manage them?

Trans-PRK has the most demanding early phase of all laser procedures. We say so honestly:

iPain in the first 2 to 3 days, the epithelium closes after 3 to 5 days; bandage lens, cooling drops and painkillers make it manageable.
iHaze (corneal clouding): rare thanks to mitomycin C during the treatment and UV protection afterwards.
iSlower visual recovery: the final result develops over weeks, not days.
iUnder- or overcorrection: rare; re-treatment within 12 months is included in the fixed price.
Your safety net: Should a re-treatment be necessary within 12 months, it is included in the fixed price at EyeLaser Vienna. And for emergencies you receive the surgeon’s personal mobile number, around the clock, including weekends.

Healing after Trans-PRK in pictures

Guide values. We follow your personal course at the check-ups.

Day 0: the laser removes the epithelium and reshapes the cornea underneath.
Day 0: the laser removes the epithelium and reshapes the cornea underneath.
Day 0: a soft bandage lens protects the eye.
Day 0: a soft bandage lens protects the eye.
Day 3 to 5: the epithelium has grown back.
Day 3 to 5: the epithelium has grown back.
At the check-up after 3 to 5 days, the bandage lens is removed.
At the check-up after 3 to 5 days, the bandage lens is removed.

Illustrations: SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions

Honestly asked

What if …? The most common worries before Trans-PRK

Almost everyone who comes to us has the same questions in mind and does not always dare to ask them. Here are the honest answers.

“Does it hurt?”

Not the treatment itself: the eye is numbed with drops and nothing touches it. Honestly, though: especially in the first two to three days afterwards you feel the eye, it burns and waters; after 3 to 5 days the top cell layer has closed. A bandage lens, cooling drops and a painkiller make it quite bearable.

“What if I blink or move?”

A soft lid holder keeps the eye open; blinking is not possible. There is no suction ring you could disturb. The laser’s eye tracking measures your eye position more than 1,000 times per second and adjusts every pulse; if you move too much, it stops by itself and continues at exactly the same spot.

“Could I go blind?”

The laser works exclusively on the corneal surface, a few tenths of a millimetre deep. The retina and optic nerve are not touched. The real, rare risk is an infection in the days while the surface heals. Against that stand antibiotic drops, the bandage lens and close follow-up checks.

“What if the result isn’t right?”

With Trans-PRK the final result develops over weeks; patience is part of it. A slight under- or overcorrection is rare; if needed, re-treatment within 12 months is included in the fixed price. We prevent corneal clouding (haze) with mitomycin C during the treatment and UV protection afterwards.

“Does it last forever?”

The correction of your short- or long-sightedness is permanent; the cornea does not grow back. What remains is the normal ageing of the eye: from about 45, presbyopia sets in, regardless of the treatment. There are solutions for that later too, such as PresbyMAX or a lens exchange.

“I can’t bring myself to decide.”

You don’t have to today. The first step is a preliminary examination with the chief surgeon, without obligation. Only the measurements show whether Trans-PRK is the right method for you at all. After that you have as much time to think as you need. Nobody is pushed into an appointment here.

We answer further questions in the FAQ below or in person at the suitability check.

The Big Method Comparison: When Is Trans-PRK the Best Choice?

Comparison: Trans-PRK (SmartSurfACE) · Femto-LASIK 7D · SmartSight (Lenticule)
Feature / Method Trans-PRK (SmartSurfACE) Femto-LASIK 7D SmartSight (Lenticule)
Incision Technique 🥇 No incision (“No-Touch”) Flap incision (approx. 20 mm) Minimally invasive (< 3 mm)
Biomechanical Stability 🥇 Maximum (100% intact) Very high (flap heals) 🥇 Maximum (No flap)
For Extremely Thin Corneas? 🥇 Yes (The safest choice) No Conditional (tissue limit)
Pain-Free After Surgery 🔴 Painful (Day 1-3) 🥇 Excellent Excellent
Visual Recovery (Sharp Vision) Longer (sharp from approx. week 1-2) Fastest (on day 1) Very fast (1–2 days)
Downtime (Work) Approx. 4 to 5 days 1 day 1 to 2 days

The EyeLaser Suitability Check: Traffic Light System for Trans-PRK

Illustration: the excimer laser removes the top layer of the cornea (epithelium)

🟢 Green Light (Ideal Conditions):

  • Myopia (short-sightedness): Up to approx. -6.0 diopters (higher values increase haze risk).
  • Extremely thin corneas (where Femto-LASIK or SmartSight are no longer possible).
  • Professional athletes, martial artists (MMA, boxing), and emergency personnel (police/WEGA).
  • People with an absolute phobia of an “incision” in the eye.

🟡 Yellow Light (Precise Medical Clarification Needed):

  • Astigmatism over 3 diopters (healing at the surface is often less predictable than in depth).
  • Hyperopia (long-sightedness): Trans-PRK for plus values is often associated with a long and difficult healing phase. Here we preferably recommend Femto-LASIK.

🔴 Red light (Not suitable):

  • Very high myopia over -8 diopters. Here, the implantable contact lens (EVO ICL) is often the perfect and safe alternative.
  • Keratoconus (pathological corneal weakness) without accompanying crosslinking.
  • Severe rheumatic or autoimmune diseases (healing disorders).
Dr. Victor Derhartunian seated in the laser suite between SCHWIND laser systems

“Trans-PRK is a fascinating procedure from a medical perspective. I always tell my patients: We artificially put your eye into the state of a harmless abrasion. That’s uncomfortable for a few days. But the biological reward is immense. Since we leave the static architecture of the cornea untouched, your eye is just as resistant after healing as that of a person who has never been operated on. Those who make this short-term sacrifice receive the ultimate, lifelong gold standard for safety.”
– Dr. med. univ. Victor Derhartunian, FEBO, FWCRS

Maximum Stability for Your Eyes. Without Touch

Choose the safest and most biomechanically stable form of laser eye correction. Book your non-binding suitability check now. Experience high-end diagnostics and uncompromising medical expertise in our premium clinic in the heart of Vienna.

100% non-binding. No hidden costs. Highest medical standards.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Trans-PRK in Vienna

What patients say

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 from 244 Google reviewsAll reviews on Google →Patient stories with video →

“From the very first moment I felt in the best hands with Dr. Derhartunian. The whole team is incredibly friendly, well organised and really takes time for every patient.”

Ralf P. · Google review (translated from German), July 2026

“I am very happy that I made this decision. One year after the operation everything is in perfect order. Getting up in the morning and no longer needing glasses is a completely different feeling.”

Oskar · Patient story after laser eye surgery, eyelaser.at

Read on

What comes next?

Trans-PRK is the surface method. What the other procedures do differently and how to proceed:

Laser eye surgery in Vienna: all methods →SmartSight (no flap) →Femto-LASIK →ICL lens if laser is not an option →The process in four steps →Costs and fixed prices →Suitability test (2 minutes) →
4,9 von 5 – über 240 Google-Bewertungen für EyeLaser Wien & Linz