Laser vision · ASA
PRK and surface laser, with no flap
Reviewed by Rajesh Khanna, MD
PRK and the other advanced surface ablation (ASA) methods correct vision without a flap. The thin surface layer of the cornea is removed, an excimer laser reshapes the cornea, and a soft bandage contact lens protects the eye while the surface grows back. Recovery is slower than LASIK in the first week.
How it works
What PRK and ASA are
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) removes the epithelium, the thin surface layer of the cornea, and then reshapes the cornea with an excimer laser. No flap is made. The surface layer grows back over several days under a soft bandage contact lens.
ASA is the modern family of surface treatments. They differ only in how the surface layer is handled, and outcomes are comparable. Dr. Khanna chooses the approach that fits your cornea, dryness risk, prescription and laser platform.
In higher prescriptions, a brief medication may be used during treatment to lower the risk of corneal haze. Your surgeon personalizes this.
Compare
Four ways to treat the surface
All four are flap-free and use the same excimer laser reshaping.
| Feature | Mechanical PRK | LASEK | Epi-LASIK | Transepithelial PRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface layer | Gently polished away with a micro-brush | Loosened with dilute alcohol, lifted as a sheet, then repositioned | Separated with a blunt epikeratome, without alcohol, then replaced | Removed by the laser in the same treatment plan (“no-touch”) |
| Flap | None | None | None | None |
| Reshaping | Excimer laser | Excimer laser | Excimer laser | Excimer laser |
Candidacy
Are you a candidate for PRK and ASA?
Final candidacy follows corneal tomography, tear testing, pupil analysis and a detailed eye exam. The goal is the safest path to clear vision.
Often a good fit
- Corneas that are thinner, or where a flap isn’t ideal
- Borderline corneal maps where your surgeon prefers no flap
- Contact sports or impact-prone jobs
- Higher dry-eye risk and a preference for a flap-free option
- A stable prescription
May not be right, or not yet
- You can’t take a slower first week
- Keratoconus or progressive corneal thinning
- An untreated eye-surface or dry-eye problem
- Pregnancy or nursing
- A prescription that is still changing
Procedure day
What treatment day is like
Map and plan
Your eyes are scanned in 3D, with tear-film and pupil checks, to design a custom treatment for day and night vision.
Remove the surface layer
Dr. Khanna uses the technique that fits your cornea. All are flap-free.
Laser reshaping
Modern excimer profiles with appropriately sized optical zones sharpen focus and aim to minimize halos.
Protect the surface
A soft bandage contact lens shields the eye while it heals over the first few days.
Recovery
A slower first week, then steady sharpening
Your comfort plan includes the bandage lens, a short course of drops as appropriate, tailored oral medicine for the first 48–72 hours, and chilled tears or cold packs.
Days 0–2
Light sensitivity and grittiness are common. Rest and sunglasses help.
Days 3–5
The surface closes for most people. The bandage lens comes out once healing is complete.
Weeks 1–2
Functional vision for work and driving returns, and halos fade. Screens are usually fine after 3–5 days; driving waits for clearance.
1–3 months
Vision keeps sharpening. Wait 2–3 weeks for swimming and hot tubs, and wear sunglasses midday for 3 months.
Call the surgical team right away for increasing pain, sudden vision loss, marked redness or discharge.
Benefits and risks
The honest version
Why people consider PRK and ASA
- No flap, so no flap complications
- An option for thinner corneas and contact sports
- For appropriate prescriptions, results after healing are comparable to LASIK
- Priced the same as LASIK
What no one can promise
Temporary discomfort and light sensitivity are expected early, and recovery is slower than LASIK during week one. Dry-eye symptoms, halos or glare can occur during healing.
Delayed surface healing or corneal haze are uncommon, and your plan reduces that risk. Infection and scarring are rare but possible with any surgery. No surgery can promise perfect vision.
Your surgeon
The technology is advanced. The judgment is personal.
Rajesh Khanna, MD is a UCLA clinical instructor with 25+ years in practice and 25,000+ vision procedures.
At your visit, Dr. Khanna decides whether surgery is the right choice, which procedure fits your eyes, and how to manage the result. The aim is the safest path to the vision that matters in your life, not the newest procedure for everyone.
"I've operated on my own mother, my wife and my son." (Dr. Khanna)
About Dr. KhannaCost and financing
What PRK and ASA cost
| Option | Per eye, per month |
|---|---|
| PRK / LASEK / ASA | About $99 for 24 months (same as LASIK; technology varies) |
Monthly amounts are for qualified applicants through our financing partners. Approval, APR and terms are set by the lender, not by Khanna Vision Institute.
PRK, LASEK and the other ASA methods are priced the same as LASIK. Our procedure prices include all exams, measurements, surgeon’s and anesthetist’s fees, implant fees where applicable, 24 months of follow-up, all fine-tunings and enhancements, dry eye care, YAG where applicable, and the drops needed for surgery.
HSA and FSA funds can usually be used. You can also put a tax refund toward the total or split it with a payment plan.
We have dropped, and will continue to drop, HMO and optical (vision) insurance plans. For questions about a specific plan, call (310) 482-1240.
Vision questionnaire
Take the 2-minute vision quiz
Four quick questions point you to the options Dr. Khanna will look at first. No name, email or phone needed, and your answers stay on this page.
PRK and ASA questions
Is ASA the same as “old PRK”?
No. ASA is a modern, flap-free family that uses updated lasers, gentler surface techniques, routine bandage lenses, and evidence-based comfort and anti-haze steps.
Which ASA technique is best?
Outcomes are comparable. Your cornea, dryness risk, prescription and the laser platform guide the choice, and Dr. Khanna explains why he recommends one.
Does PRK hurt?
Expect a few days of discomfort while the surface heals. A bandage lens, chilled lubricating drops and short-course medicine make it manageable for most people.
Is the vision as good as LASIK?
For appropriate prescriptions, results after healing are comparable. The tradeoff is a slower first week.
How much does PRK cost?
PRK, LASEK and ASA are about $99 per eye per month for 24 months, the same as LASIK, for qualified applicants through our financing partners.
Is the first visit a VIP consult?
Yes. PRK and LASEK start with a free VIP consult, a surgery consultation focused on candidacy. It is not a full eye exam.
VIP consult
Request your VIP consult
Your first visit is a VIP consult: more time with each patient, and enough time with the surgeon, Dr. Khanna. Candidacy is decided there, and the answer may be a procedure or no surgery at all.
- VIP consult for SMILE Pro, SMILE, LASIK, EVO ICL, PIE, PRK and LASEK
- A surgery consultation, not a full eye exam
- In-office or virtual, as offered
Beverly Hills: Monday and Thursday · Westlake Village: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday · 8 AM–5 PM, last appointment 4 PM. Saturday by arrangement only: please call.
Sources
Medically reviewed by Rajesh Khanna, MD (review pending before launch). This page is educational and does not replace an exam. Eligibility, risks, benefits, alternatives and recovery are reviewed with your surgeon. Results vary.