PRK abroad, the questions that protect you.
PRK is laser vision correction without a corneal flap, which suits some eyes better than LASIK but heals more slowly. Here are the questions that separate a careful clinic from a risky deal, wherever you are sent. We never name a clinic.
answered in writing
weeks to settle
over several days
What should I ask a clinic?
Ask whether your eyes are actually suited to PRK rather than LASIK, who performs the surgery and with what qualification, and what scans and tests are done first to rule out problems like thin or irregular corneas. Then ask honestly about the slower recovery, what the price includes, and exactly how follow up and any complication would be handled once you fly home.
A clinic that answers these plainly and in writing is the one to trust. Pressure to book quickly, no proper eye assessment, or a result promised without caveats are warning signs. This is general information, not medical advice.
Six questions before you pay.
A safe clinic answers all six without flinching and puts the answers in writing. Use them to judge any clinic you are sent, wherever it is. We never name clinics.
The red flags that should stop you.
Laser vision correction without detailed corneal scans and a screen for conditions like keratoconus is a reason to walk away. The workup is how unsuitable eyes are caught.
If a clinic treats PRK like a quick fix and skips the days of discomfort and the weeks before vision settles, it is not setting honest expectations.
No clinic can promise you will never need glasses again. A guarantee with no caveats, or pressure to decide on the spot, is a reason to look elsewhere.
Ask the right questions, of vetted clinics.
Send one brief and we route it to vetted clinics that assess your eyes properly, are clear about whether PRK suits you, and explain the recovery and follow up honestly. You choose, with no pressure.
Free and no obligation. Accredited clinics only. We never sell your details.
How we make money: the guides are free and no clinic can pay to be named, ranked or recommended. We never name clinics. Get Matched is an optional service that helps keep the guides free and independent of any one clinic; using it is always your choice and you are never charged. How this works.
The things everyone asks.
How is PRK different from LASIK?
Both reshape the cornea with a laser, but PRK does not create a corneal flap. Instead the surface layer is removed and grows back over several days, so recovery is slower and more uncomfortable, while the final result is comparable. PRK can suit thinner corneas.
How long does PRK take to recover from?
The surface layer typically heals within several days, with most people noticing clearer vision in the first one to two weeks. Vision can take several weeks to a few months to fully stabilise. Ask the clinic for your expected timeline.
How long should I stay before flying home?
There is no single rule, since it depends on the clinic and your healing. The point is to allow for the early checks before you travel, so ask exactly which follow up visits are needed and plan your trip around them.
Will PRK mean I never need glasses?
Not necessarily. Many people reduce or stop needing glasses for distance, but results vary, some need an enhancement, and reading glasses are still likely with age. No honest clinic guarantees perfect vision forever.
What if there is a problem once I am home?
Ask in advance what the clinic would do, who pays, and how it would be handled remotely, and arrange a local eye clinician who could review you. Keep your records and the details of your treatment to share with them.
Where to go next.
PRK guide
Guide liveWhat PRK is, who it suits, the honest costs, the risks, and how to choose safely.
LASIK
ProcedureThe flap based alternative, how it compares, and who it suits.
Eye surgery abroad safety
GuideThe questions to settle before any eye surgery trip.
You can also read our guide to verifying a surgeon's credentials, or Get Matched with a vetted clinic.
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