Trans-PRK (transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy)

Trans-PRK (transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy)

In trans-PRK (also called SmartSight), under local anesthesia and after an eyelid retractor holds the eye open, the correction is performed on the surface of the cornea without contact or incision. The epithelium (the cells of the corneal surface that are constantly regenerating) is also automatically removed by the LASER. Previously, these were removed manually by the surgeon (PRK method).

At the end, antibiotic eye drops are applied and a contact lens, which remains on the cornea until the epithelium regenerates and is removed by the doctor after about 4 days, is put on. The contact lens reduces the expected pain.

Duration: 1 minute / eye

Advantages:
- No incision (flap) necessary
- Sports restriction: 5 days, contact and ball sports 2 weeks
- Technically simpler method, non-contact
- Price, only 1 LASER applied
- Treatment of both eyes on the same day

Disadvantages:
- Pain: 2-3 days, occasionally severe pain can be expected
- Inability to work: 1 week
- Optical rehabilitation: in 5-7 days, optimal result can be expected only after 1-3 months
- Dry eyes in the first months

Price: CHF 1'890 / eye
(preliminary examinations, follow-up examinations and medication, 24/7 accessibility for the first 3 months, 10 years follow-up is included if medically indicated)

Anatomy of the human eye

Human eye

The eye is one of our most important sensory organs for orienting ourselves in our environment. In its structure and functioning, the eye can be compared to a camera lens: Light rays ...

Outer eye shell

The outer shell is formed by the transparent cornea and the opaque white sclera. Both tissues give the eye its shape and strength. The conjunctiva covers the sclera in front ...

Conjunctiva (lat. Tunica conjunctiva) & Eyelid

The conjunctiva "connecting garment" (lat. Tunica conjunctiva) is a mucous membrane of the anterior segment of the eye and surrounds the cornea and the visible white part of the eye. With each blink, the conjunctiva distributes ...

Ciliary muscle (lat. Musculus ciliaris)

The ciliary muscle belongs to the inner eye muscles and is located in the ciliary body (lat. corpus ciliare) - also called the ray body. The ciliary body is a section of the middle eye skin and, besides the suspension ...

Posterior eye chamber (lat. Camera posterior bulbi)

The posterior chamber of the eye is smaller than the anterior chamber. It extends from the iris to the vitreous body - in it lies the lens. The aqueous humor - which covers both the posterior ...

Cornea (lat. Cornea)

Light enters the eye through the cornea, where it is then transmitted to the lens and pupil. The cornea is therefore also called the "window of the eye" and is a ...

Pupil (lat. pupilla): Eye hole of the eye

The pupil is the circular aperture in the center of the iris. Light enters the interior of the eye through the pupil. Its size is regulated by the surrounding iris, depending ...

Rainbow skin (lat. Iris)

The iris is the colorful part of the eye and is as individual as a fingerprint. The so-called iris, or "colorful aperture" of the eye, can be changed by an individual pigment distribution in ...

Middle eye shell

The middle shell consists of three sections with specific functions. The iris adjusts the incidence of light. The ciliary body produces aqueous humor and regulates the curvature of the lens for near or ...