Posted on February 21, 2010.
What you do not know PRK surgery could cost you! The idea of PRK surgery is a call for a person with glasses or contacts. You want something that is easier and simpler, but you can not understand all the jargon associated with the procdedure. Read on to learn more about PRK eye surgery.
PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, is a type of laser surgery used to right by moderate myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. Like other laser eye surgeries, your vision is corrected by reshaping the cornea of the eye. The cornea is the real front of the eyeball. Light travels through the cornea and is focused on the retina at the back of your eye. If the cornea is deformed, the light does not focus on the retina, your vision is impaired.
In PRK surgery, the surgeon uses a cool, pulsating laser beam on the surface of the cornea. In LASIK, a flap is cut in the cornea and the laser beam is directed under the cornea.
PRK is very accurate to correct nearsightedness. About 80% of patients have 20/20 vision without glasses one year after surgery. PRK overhead almost the same as Lasik surgery. The recovery time will be corrected vision is longer with PRK than it is with LASIK. PRK The typical patient has about 80% of their best overview after one month, and 95% to 100% after 3 months. Lasik corrects a far more quickly than that.
There will be some discomfort for 24-48 hours after PRK surgery, and often patients expertise light sensitivity as well.
PRK is performed under local anesthesia and takes about 10 minutes for both eyes. Typically, a bandage contact lens is called immediately after surgery. This contact lens is worn for three to four days to allow the surface of the eye to heal. You will visit the surgeon the day after surgery, and probably several times over the next six months. Once the surface of the eye has healed, the bandage contact lens is removed.
Your vision may fluctuate for the first weeks after surgery. Your eyes are dry, even if they do not feel like it. Your doctor will prescribe eye drops to prevent infection and keep your eyes moist.
Your vision will gradually improve over time. After two to three weeks, you will see well enough to drive a car. Your best vision, but will not be achieved until six weeks, six months after surgery.
PRK has become less common recently. Most surgeons prefer Lasik procedures because healing time is faster, and the results are more predictable. The final decision on what type of eye surgery to have you. Make sure you understand all the information, and ask lots of questions.