Prior to the PRK procedure, your doctor applies numbing eye drops to block the feeling of pain. While every person has their own unique threshold for discomfort, most patients do not report that the process is painful. The PRK recovery process may bring you temporary discomfort as the epithelial cells regenerate on your eye. These discomforts can include pain, throbbing, a foreign substance feeling, etc. This can be managed with pain medications outlined by your doctor.