Ocular Evidence
Procedures / TransPRK
Surface ablation

TransPRK outcomes

A no-touch surface-ablation technique in which an excimer laser removes both epithelium and stromal tissue in a single-step treatment.

Source: PubMed — PMID 40698097
Find overlapping cohorts
6studies represented
6study arms
500reported enrolled eyes*
1 yearlongest standardized follow-up

* Descriptive sum of reported arm counts. Missing eye counts are not treated as zero, and overlapping cohorts may not be additive.

How the operation changes the eye
Three-stage medical illustration showing laser-only epithelial removal, stromal reshaping, and a bandage contact lens after TransPRK
Original explanatory illustration. Simplified anatomy; exact devices and technique vary.
How the operation works

The laser removes the surface and reshapes the cornea

TransPRK is a surface-laser procedure in which the laser performs both epithelial removal and corneal reshaping, without a flap.

  1. The excimer laser removes the corneal epithelium over the treatment zone.
  2. The laser continues with the planned reshaping of the tissue beneath it.
  3. A bandage contact lens usually covers the treated surface while the epithelium regrows.
Clinical reference: Moorfields Eye Hospital — laser eye surgery

Study-specific outcomes

Percentages are displayed individually. They are not pooled or averaged.

MODERATE evidenceRCTVerified evidence

Transepithelial Versus Conventional PRK: A Randomized Controlled Study (2025)

Transepithelial PRK35 enrolled eyesDevice not reported
3 months35 eyes observed
Not reportedUncorrected 20/20 or better
Not reportedRefraction within ±0.50 D
Not reportedRefraction within ±1.00 D
Not reportedLost at least 2 lines of CDVA
Additional source-reported outcomes
0.34 DSource
Mean absolute prediction error
LOW evidencePROSPECTIVE COHORTVerified evidence

Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy for myopia and myopic astigmatism (2025)

TransPRK137 enrolled eyesDevice not reported
6 months137 eyes observed
Not reportedUncorrected 20/20 or better
Not reportedRefraction within ±0.50 D
Not reportedRefraction within ±1.00 D
Not reportedLost at least 2 lines of CDVA
Additional source-reported outcomes
-0.13 DSource
Mean postoperative spherical equivalent
1 year137 eyes observed
Not reportedUncorrected 20/20 or better
Not reportedRefraction within ±0.50 D
Not reportedRefraction within ±1.00 D
Not reportedLost at least 2 lines of CDVA
Additional source-reported outcomes
-0.17 DSource
Mean postoperative spherical equivalent
MODERATE evidenceRCTVerified evidence

Transepithelial Versus Epithelium-off Photorefractive Keratectomy in High Compound Myopic Astigmatism (2024)

Transepithelial PRK30 enrolled eyesDevice not reported
6 months30 eyes observed
Not reportedUncorrected 20/20 or better
Not reportedRefraction within ±0.50 D
Not reportedRefraction within ±1.00 D
Not reportedLost at least 2 lines of CDVA
Additional source-reported outcomes
0.51 DSource
Mean residual cylinder
76.0%
23/30 eyes
Source
Residual cylinder within 0.50 D
MODERATE evidencePROSPECTIVE COHORTVerified evidence

Single-Step Transepithelial PRK vs Alcohol-Assisted PRK in Myopia and Compound Myopic Astigmatism Correction (2016)

Single-step transepithelial PRK173 enrolled eyesDevice not reported
3 months145 eyes observed
97.0%
145 eyes
Source
Uncorrected 20/20 or better
Not reportedRefraction within ±0.50 D
Not reportedRefraction within ±1.00 D
Not reportedLost at least 2 lines of CDVA
Additional source-reported outcomes
13.0%
145 eyes
Source
Loss of 1 line of corrected visual acuity
-0.14 DSource
Mean postoperative spherical equivalent
MODERATE evidencePROSPECTIVE COHORTVerified evidence

Single-Step Transepithelial ASLA (SCHWIND) With Mitomycin-C for the Correction of High Myopia: Long-Term Follow-Up (2015)

Single-step ASLA TransPRK41 enrolled eyesAMARIS
12 months41 eyes observed
Not reportedUncorrected 20/20 or better
Refraction within ±0.50 D
Not reportedRefraction within ±1.00 D
Not reportedLost at least 2 lines of CDVA
Additional source-reported outcomes
-0.10 D
41 eyes
Source · Abstract
Mean postoperative spherical equivalent
0.000 logMAR
41 eyes
Source · Abstract
Mean uncorrected distance visual acuity