Summer is a great time to have Laser Vision Correction/PRK.

Here are the top five questions patients ask about PRK:

WHAT IS PRK?

PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is a type of eye surgery that utilizes the excimer laser to precisely alter the shape of the cornea by removing a small amount of cells from the outer layer to eliminate or greatly reduce nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. PRK surgery is extremely effective and can greatly improve vision without the need to cut a corneal flap, which is a necessary part of any LASIK procedure.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PRK OVER LASIK SURGERY?

• PRK has equal or slightly better visual outcomes than LASIK.
• PRK does not cut the cornea, LASIK does. Corneal flaps weaken the eye by 50-60%.
• PRK has a very low chance of serious complications; lower than LASIK, which is also a safe procedure. The complication rate from PRK is lower than long-term contact lens wear.
• Because it cuts into the cornea, LASIK can cause dry eye; PRK does not cause that side effect.

WHAT TYPES OF CORRECTION CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH PRK?

PRK treats all refractive errors including large amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Patients in their 40s or older will still need reading glasses. Monovision or the deliberate under-correction of one eye to allow for better near vision can be done.

IS ONE EYE DONE AT A TIME OR IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO TWO?

ONE EYE: There is less discomfort when patients do one eye at a time and the ophthalmologists at Eye Care Associates prefer to do one eye. The doctors often learn about the healing response from the first eye, and in some cases they may vary what they do with the second eye. When only one eye is done at a time, most patients can go to work the next day.

TWO EYES: For geographic reasons or for deploying military personnel, both eyes can be done at once. However, when patients have both eyes done, they may not be able to resume work as quickly until the eye heals enough to enable adequate vision. This amount of time varies depending on the patient and degree of refractive error.

HOW MUCH PAIN IS INVOLVED IN PRK?

The PRK surgery itself is painless. A postop regimen used by the ophthalmologists at Eye Care Associates is very successful in controlling postoperative discomfort or pain. Most patients equate the post-operative experience with a “foreign body sensation”, like the feeling of having an eyelash in their eye or a “bad contact lens day”. There is rarely significant pain with PRK and it rarely lasts more than a day or two. When it is encountered, the discomfort is frequently the result of a dislodged or poorly-fitting bandage contact lens, and that can be easily replaced.

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