A Look at Custom PRK

Custom PRK is an Advanced form of Standard PRK

In order to obtain better vision than can be obtained with Standard PRK, patients would have to choose more recently developed technology to CUSTOMIZE the Standard PRK procedure. This is done by using WaveFront technology borrowed from NASA where it is used to develop powerful telescopes like the Hubble™ telescope. This provides a degree of high definition day and night sight, which is impossible to obtain using Standard PRK.

The Custom PRK Procedure

1. Anaesthetic drops are applied to the eye.

2. The surface of the outer layer of the cornea is gently removed by the surgeon using either a special PRK brush, a blade, a spatula or chemicals like 20% Ethanol. This is therefore not an all laser procedure.

3. Computer-controlled pulses of cool laser light are applied to the inner layers of the cornea. As the laser pulses, it makes a ticking sound.

The inner corneal layer is now reshaped with the laser to correct more complex prescriptions like low, moderate and high degrees of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism in your eye as well as treating those aberrations in the eye responsible for poor night vision. This reshaping of the cornea is designed to work by individualizing and personalizing every patient’s treatment to their own specific needs.

The irregularities of the front of the eye are measured with sophisticated WaveFront technology which are then entered into our laser which smoothes out the surface of the eye like a good telescopic lens free of optical aberrations. Unlike Standard PRK, it does not simply attempt to duplicate one’s spectacle prescription on the cornea. It is designed to improve one’s day and night vision. In fact, Custom PRK invariably improves one’s night vision performance like night driving.

This procedure adds the sharpness and clarity of VISX S4IR™ Fourier Wavefront Analysis with Iris Registration to the Standard PRK procedure. Iris Registration assures that your Advanced CustomVue wavefront treatment is lined up and centered on your eye even if your eye rotates. Only the VISX Star S4 IR laser like the one at Bense Vision has Iris Registration (First and only centre in NL)

Our WaveFront technology uses the Advanced CustomVue™ system with a difference. Most other laser companies who do Custom PRK use the Zernike Wavefront Analysis System, which uses only 16% of your wavefront data. Our Advanced CustomVue™ system uses the Fourier Wavefront Analysis System that uses 100% of your wavefront data for your laser treatment.

4. A bandage contact lens is placed on the eye for 4-10 days to enhance healing and comfort.