PRK Surgery
Eye surgery to correct blurred or double vision is one of the most common surgical procedures today. While the most common and popular type of eye surgery is Lasik, there are actually other types of laser eye surgery that might even be a better choice for people.
One of these is PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) surgery, which also utilizes a laser and actually used to be the most popular type of corrective eye surgery before Lasik.
PRK basics
Although it was invented in the 1980's, the laser required for PRK was not approved in the United States until 1995.
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With PRK, the eye surgeon uses what is known as an excimer laser, a type of laser that uses a cool ultraviolet laser beam to remove tissue from the cornea. The main goal of PRK is to reshape the cornea so that light is better focused in the eye and retina. Unlike Lasik, PRK does not use a laser to create a flap in the cornea; instead, it uses a sterile brush to scrape away cells, then uses the laser to reshape. Depending on the patient's problem, PRK works to correct the following conditions with the excimer laser:
- Nearsightedness. Also called myopia, with nearsightedness, you can see better close up than you can from far away. This is because the eye is longer than normal. PRK corrects this by reshaping the cornea so it is not as steep.
- Farsightedness. Also called hyperopia, farsightedness occurs when you see objects that are far away better than objects that are close up. PRK surgery works to make the cornea steeper.
- Astigmatism. This is caused by an irregular shaped cornea, which not only blurs the vision, but distorts shapes as well. PRK can correct this by reshaping the cornea into a more regular shape.
Benefits of PRK
Like other types of laser eye surgery, PRK is relatively fast-about 15 minutes on average for each eye. (This varies-the higher your prescription, the longer it will take to It is also painless; the surgeon will numb your eyes with drops so you don't feel any pain during the procedure.
While most doctors will recommend Lasik first for a number of reasons (faster healing time, better long-term outcomes, etc.), Lasik is not always an option for everyone. Some people may have thin or flat corneas or large pupils, making Lasik less effective. PRK is often an excellent option when Lasik is no longer one. People who have thin corneal tissue will respond better to PRK. There are also fewer complications with PRK, including less risk of dry eye.
Drawbacks of PRK
Like any surgery, there are also drawbacks of PRK. Lasik has a remarkably fast healing time with very little discomfort. With PRK, however, more healing time is required and the first 24 hours are typically more uncomfortable than with Lasik. In addition, any trauma to the eye area may cause complications after the surgery.
Is PRK right for you?
If you would like to get laser eye surgery to correct your vision but are not a candidate for Lasik, discuss your options with your doctor. It may be that PRK is an excellent option for you, particularly if you have thin or flat corneas or large pupils.
The best thing for you to do is to get a complete eye exam from your optometrist. He or she can tell you whether or not PRK is a good option for you.
