Look Into The Benefits Of Getting PRK Eye Surgery
In the last few years, lasik eye surgery, or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, has become increasingly popular and affordable, but for those who are looking to solve their eye problems for good, it's not the only option. PRK eye surgery, or photorefractive keratectomy, used to be the number one and only refractive eye surgery, and although like lasik, it is another form of laser eye surgery, they have different pros and cons.
PRK laser surgery is done with an excimer laser, which uses an ultraviolet light to shave off small bits of the cornea and reform the shape of the eye, unlike with lasik which uses a microkeratome knife to cut the epithelium and stroma of the cornea to a smaller size, forming a flap. It is effective on patients with near-sightedness, far-sightedness and even astigmatism. It is especially preferred over lasik eye surgery for patients who have very thin corneas or big pupils, because the laser it uses is very exact.
The actual PRK surgery lasts about a minute, but its time depends on the strength of your eye prescription. You are awake the whole time but your eyes are anesthetized so you feel no pain. You can get both eyes done within minutes of each other, but it's most common to wait at least a week between sessions.
PRK recovery could take a few days, and it is usually recommended to stay home and rest during that period. You should not do any strenuous exercise or evern go to work during that period. For a few weeks after, you will also probably have to take anti-inflammatory eye drops and see the doctor frequently to ensure all is healing well.
PRK eye surgery differs from lasik in that, although most patients will gain perfect vision or near perfect vision after the surgery, lasik shows quicker results. With lasik there is less discomfort and patients could even notice a change of up to 85% improvement in just 24 hours, while with PRK surgery, the improvement is more gradual, and it could take up to a few months to feel the full effects. However, lasik is not ideal for every candidate, and unless you have an abundance of corneal tissue, it may not be for you. The precision of PRK laser surgery means that it can help those who don't qualify for lasik, and there is less risk of dry eye or stromal flap complications as there could be with lasik since that procedure cuts the flap as opposed to removing it as in PRK.
Opting for PRK eye surgery is usually a secondary route to lasik, because it takes longer to see the improvements and it can be more expensive. However, due to its exact method, it allows people who have very thin corneas or who are not eligible for lasik eye surgery to have a chance at better vision as well. It is a great back-up option granting more people the opportunity of having perfect eye sight.
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