Gain freedom from glasses and contacts with TransPRK laser eye surgery

Your prescription should not have changed for at least twelve months before the procedure (ideally even longer) to be suitable for TransPRK.

Healthy eyes are also essential. Diseases such as cataracts or diseases of the retina do not allow treatment with TransPRK.

If farsightedness is present, a value of plus 3 is the maximum up to which we can carry out the operation. For nearsightedness, the value permitted is minus 8. We can treat astigmatism up to a value of 6 dioptres using TransPRK.

One thing should be clear, however: Which method is best for a patient is determined solely by the doctor. He knows the patient and, above all, he knows the eye that needs to be treated. Accordingly, it is not always the diopter values alone that are the deciding factor.

TransPRK is a vision correction method that works without any contact.

Unlike conventional PRK, the surgeon does not need to remove the epithelium (the corneal cover) by hand. With TransPRK, the excimer laser can perform this detachment much more precisely. Also, there is no pain or discomfort, and the wound healing process is much faster. As a rule, healing does not take longer than three days.

Once the laser has removed the epithelium, the actual correction begins – also by laser. The laser works on the top layer of the cornea and thus eliminates the ametropia of the eye.

To protect the cornea, relieve pain and speed up wound healing, the doctors put a special contact lens over it in the first few days. In this way, the cornea can recover quickly without disturbances or external influences.

TransPRK is the most modern evolution of all surface treatments. Even patients who are martial artists or exposed to potential trauma are good candidates for this surface treatment.

With this treatment technique, there are no weak points of the eye that could be displaced by exposure to force.

Patients with thin or slightly irregular corneas are also good candidates for this type of treatment.

How safe is TransPRK?

Very safe. Anyone who undergoes this procedure need not have any concerns.

The epithelium grows back so quickly that hardly any complications can arise. This also means that the eyesight improves within a very short time. Significantly faster than with conventional PRK or LASEK (toxic alcohol effect). However, it takes a few weeks for the eyesight to recover.

In a few cases, treated patients complain that the healing process is sometimes a little painful.

In some patients, there is also a delicate corneal clouding or scarring (haze). This causes a mostly temporary deterioration in vision. Eye drops help here in the short term, and this clouding, also known as haze, is also not permanent.

Patients need to follow all recommended post operative check-ups.

How safe is PRK?

The superficial cells are removed here with the help of a mechanical instrument. First, however, the cells are soaked in alcohol, which also has a toxic effect. This is also the reason for the prolonged wound healing compared to the Trans-PRK. The epithelium grows back together within 3-7 days. This also means that the ability to see increases within one week, although somewhat more slowly than with Trans-PRK. Nevertheless, it takes a few weeks for the vision to recover.

In a few cases, patients complain that the healing sometimes hurts a little due to the effect of alcohol. Some patients also experience a slight corneal clouding/scarring (haze). This usually causes a temporary deterioration of vision. Eye drops help in the short term, and this clouding, also known as haze, is not permanent.

All patients need to attend follow-up appointments after the operation.

How safe is LASEK?

With LASEK, the surgeon removes the superficial cells with the help of a mechanical instrument. The removed epithelial surface is often larger than the required “laser zone diameter”. This causes prolonged wound healing compared to Trans-PRK. The epithelium grows back together within 3-7 days, and the vision returns within one week. This recovery is slower than with Trans-PRK, where we remove only the most necessary epithelial area with the laser. Nevertheless, it takes a few weeks for the vision to recover.

In a few cases, treated patients complain that the healing sometimes hurts a little. In some patients, there is also a slight corneal clouding/scarring (haze). This usually causes a temporary deterioration of vision. Eye drops help in the short term, and this clouding, also known as haze, is not permanent either. All patients need to attend the follow-up appointments after the operation.

TransPRK is an advancement of LASEK and PRK.

In the past, PRK was the standard procedure for laser eye surgery, but LASIK has widely replaced it.

However, LASIK is not suitable for patients whose cornea is too thin or irregular. TransPRK is a great alternative for these patients.

The results after TransPRK are very predictable. They are identical to the results of other laser eye surgery methods. Still, it takes a little longer to achieve full vision (3-4 months).

Photorefractive keratectomy, PRK for short, is a surgical procedure that has been performed since 1987. This makes it one of the oldest methods of refractive laser surgery.

In PRK, LASEK, Epi-LASIK treatment, we remove the topmost cell layer of the cornea (the epithelium). We then reshape the corneal tissue underneath with an Excimer laser.

The difference between PRK, LASEK and Epi-LASIK is how the epithelium is removed:

• PRK: The surgeon removes the epithelium completely using an alcoholic solution.
• LASEK: The surgeon pushes the epithelium aside before the laser treatment commences. After laser eye surgery, the surgeon attempts to push the epithelium back again. This is often not possible.
• Epi-LASIK: The surgeon separates the epithelium from the lower surface using a scalpel.
• Trans-PRK/ No-Touch-PRK: The surgeon removes the epithelium with the Excimer laser. Due to the lack of contact, the risk of infection is the lowest.

These methods, unlike LASIK and Femto-LASIK, belong to the group of surface laser surgery. The postoperative course is painful during the first days, and full vision is achieved more slowly. These surgical techniques are therefore only used when LASIK or Femto-LASIK are not options.

You will notice immediately after the operation that you can see clearly. However, you should keep the eye covered for the rest of the day. You will be able to see relatively well only hours after the surgery.

After Trans-PRK/PRK/LASEK/Epi-LASIK surgery, the regeneration of the cells may cause pain in the first 2 to 3 days. This is because we have removed the uppermost layer of the cornea. However, we can alleviate this with painkillers.

The quality of vision may be subject to fluctuations in the first few weeks/months. Please read more about the general risks of laser eye surgery here.

The preparation

We first disinfect your facial area. Next, we will give you a local anesthetic in the form of eye drops. Your eyelids will be fixed. All this is completely symptom-free and painless. Your surgeon will ask you to look at the green light above you throughout the operation.

The denudation of the epithelium

The first step involves the removal of the topmost cell layer of the cornea, the epithelium. In newer methods, like LASIK or Femto-LASIK, the corneal flap with the epithelium is only folded back and not removed.

The correction with the Excimer laser

Next, the extremely fine laser beam skims off a thin layer of the central cornea forming a new surface area of the cornea. The laser shapes the existing corneal tissue correcting the refractive errors and astigmatisms. You will also not notice anything here, except the noise of the laser and possibly the smell of the cornea. The surgeon monitors the use of the laser through a microscope.

The completion

In the last step, the surgeon applies soft contact lenses to protect the eye after surgery. The medication prevents inflammation and reduces postoperative pain. We will remove the protective lenses after 2 to 4 days. That’s it!