Is PRK painful?
The procedure itself is not painful because the eye is numbed. The first few days afterwards are commonly described as uncomfortable, with grittiness, watering and light sensitivity while the surface layer regrows.
- Subject
- Vision correction
- Topic
- PRK & TransPRK
- Kind of question
- Is it safe…
- Procedures
- PRK, TransPRK
- Last reviewed
- 22 September 2026
In more detail
This early period is the main practical difference from flap and lenticule procedures, and it is the reason people planning around work or travel should factor it in.
Related guides
People also ask
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Where this answer sits
It is one of 483 answers in the vision and eye health knowledge base, filed under Vision correction & laser eye surgery in PRK & TransPRK . The subject page carries the answers either side of it, and the hub is searchable.
Subjects this question touches
The pages that answer the subject behind the question, rather than the question itself.
- Procedure PRK
- Procedure TransPRK
- Comparison LASIK vs PRK
- Comparison SMILE vs PRK
This information is for educational purposes and does not replace an examination by a qualified eye-care professional.
General answers cannot tell you what is happening in your own eyes. Only an examination by a qualified ophthalmologist can do that.
Sources & further reading
We prefer primary sources. Where a claim comes from a manufacturer, a single study or a regulator, it is labelled as such below.
- Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)
The equivalent clinical reference chapter for LASIK, used so that comparisons describe both procedures symmetrically.
Used for How LASIK creates and manages a corneal flap; LASIK complication categories.
Link checked 22 September 2026