How to prepare yourself for PRK
Do you hate having to wear glasses that don't stay on your face or contact lenses that fall out, rip, or just bug you? Tired of dealing with contact solution and the pain that comes with not taking the lenses out? If you have had a bad experience with contacts or with glasses you should immediately look into the possibility of investing in laser eye surgery. Although the surgery is not for everyone you could undergo a short surgery and quickly recover, never to have to wear glasses or contacts again. Many people have heard of lasik surgery, but another option is known as the PRK (photorefractive keratechtomy). If your doctor reccomends this surgery, and you qualify for it, what can you do to prepare for it?
One thing to realize is that everyone's eyes are different. This means that you need to become informed about the surgery and its risks. You will need to speak with your doctor and make sure that they thouroughly examine you. Ask them about the procedure and how it will affect you. It might also be a good idea to speak with former patients and see what their experience was like. You want to know specifics of recovery time, pain, medication, and any other complications that might have arisen.
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You will need to take at least a few days off work for recovery time. Most people can return to work quickly after the surgery, but you need to giver yourself atleast a little time, given that everyone's body responds differently. Because your vision will be impaired and because you will be under some sort of anasthetic you should arrange to have someone you trust give you a ride home after the surgery.
One of the most important things that anyone can do to prepare for PRK surgery is to follow the instructions they have been given. You should receive a letter or other form of communication detailing what you need to do in order to prepare for the surgery. If you do not receive these instructions reconsider using the particular lasik clinic you have signed up for. Make sure to follow these directions precisely-things that might seem trivial can become serious in the long run.
Do not wear contacts prior to the surgery for at least a few weeks. This can help to reduce the total amount of recovery time as well as serious discomfort after the surgery. Also, purchase some pain killers and some sort of hypo allergenic pads. You will want some basic items like this so that when you are uncomfortable you don't have to try to go to the store to get equiped. Purchase whatever you think you might need to be comfortable.
Be sure that you go to the store and get any food or other items that you need before the surgery. Realize that you will probably not be able to get these items while you are recovering from the surgery. There is a good chance that you will be lying down for at least a couple of days, so don't plan anything for the days following surgery. Make sure that a friend or relative takes care of any personal business you might have-such as taking a pet for a walk.
By following these basic guidelines you can become prepared for your PRK or lasik. Remember to follow your doctor's specific instructions very carefully-this is the most important part. With the right preparation you can be in and out of surgery quickly and recover quickly. What is more, you might not have to wear those pesky glasses or contact lenses every again!
