PRK

PRK is a refractive surgery procedure for patients who are usually not a strong candidate for LASIK. PRK uses the same type of excimer laser as LASIK to reshape the cornea so that light may focus properly on the retina, thus enhancing your vision.

During PRK the surgeon uses a computerized excimer laser to alter the shape of the cornea. The laser will usually only remove a very small amout of tissue from the cornea, approximately the thickness of 1 to 3 human hairs. The epithelium, the outermost layer of the cornea is removed during PRK which means that there is a longer healing time and some discomfort or pain after surgery. The procedure is used to correct mild to moderate nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or corneal astigmatism in patients that don't qualify for LASIK procedure.

Possible complications include, but not limited to: Dry eyes, pain, slow healing, glare and halos, over-correction or under-correction, corneal haze or opacity due to scarring, decreased best corrected visual acuity.

Some of the pre-existing conditions that may complicate or disqualify the individual for laser vision correction are: Collagen vascular disease, systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus, eye diseases like keratoconus, dry eyes, glaucoma, history of side-effects from corticosteroids.

To be considered a potential candidate for PRK, some of the requirements are: Have healthy eyes, 18 years of age or older, not be pregnant, mild to moderate myopia, hyperopia, and/or astigmatism, and have a stable refractive error for 1 year.

PRK and LASIK are different in that the PRK procedure does not involve making a corneal flap. The surgery is preformed directly on the cornea. Therefore the structural integrity of the cornea is less altered by PRK procedure. The advantage of PRK is that it allows patients who are not eligible for LASIK to still have the ability to correct their vision without glasses or contacts. The healing process is longer with PRK than with LASIK but the reward of improved uncorrected vision can make it worth it. After surgery you will be required to wear protective contact lenses so that you can reduce the discomfort and at the same time facilitate the healing process.

PRK may be performed on one eye at a time as this can ensure reasonable vision from the unoperated eye, while the treated eye is healing. However, if there is a higher degree of correction in both eyes, and the individual wishes to have surgery only in one eye at a time, then he or she may have to wear a contact lens in the unoperated eye, until the treated eye is healed and the other eye has PRK performed in that eye.

if you are over age 40 years, then you usually have what is called presbyopia that prevents you from reading small prints. To be able to read you will need a pair of reading glasses. If you are nearsighted (myopia), then you can usually read without glasses. However, if you have laser vision correction (LASIK, PRK) in both eyes then you will have to use reading glasses to read small prints. You will not be able to read without glasses since the nearsightedness was corrected by the laser treatment. If you have treatment for  mono-vision, then one eye is treated for distance and the other eye is treated for near vision. In this typr of procedure, one will usually loose some degree of depth perception. Therefore, before you have mono-vision treatment, have your eye care doctor to simulate the result of  a laser treatment for mono-vision by temporarily placing contact lenses and  see if that is something acceptable to you.

If you think you might be a candidate for PRK and want to learn more about ways to improve your vision, contact Dr. Thomas John at 708.429.2223.