For those who choose to have PRK surgery, rather than Lasik, there are differences that must be noted about the prk recovery period and process, prior to choosing this form of surgery. For starters, prk recovery time is longer than that of Lasik eye surgery, and there are other post- operation instructions which the patient must adhere by. Most eye surgeons will require the patient come in for numerous follow up office exams, to check process, and to check the change in status. Typically, after the surgery, most surgeons require the patients to come in one day after, 4 days later, one week, one month, three months, six months, and following that once a year, to check on the progress and overall quality of the patient’s vision.
During the prk recovery period, patients are going to be instructed to refrain from doing strenuous activities, usually for a period of at least one month post surgery. Additionally, patients will not be able to use lotions for the face, cream, makeup, and similar facial products, for a minimum of two weeks post surgery. A bandage will be placed over the contact lens which must remain on, until the surgeon removes them post operation, which is generally four days after the procedure at the follow up visit. Patients will also be taking steroid drops as well as antibiotic drops which will be used by the patient, in order to prevent infections and minimize possible complications during the prk recovery period; the drops will be used for a period of four months post surgery.
Unlike Lasik, the prk recovery period is longer in duration, and patients are usually advised to avoid activity for at least two days post operation. During the prk recovery patients will also experience pain which may require pain medication for relief. Additionally, the vision will fluctuate from eye to eye as well, meaning there will be hazy vision, blocked up vision, and blurry vision during the prk recovery period, which will last anywhere up to six months in time.
For the most part, patients will get great results from the procedure, but there are risks involved. Some patients will experience distorted vision, an irregular astigmatism, glaucoma, or other common side effects like haziness in vision. Additionally, by following the prk recovery procedures and guidelines provided by your doctor will reduce these risks, and will eliminate the potential for improper healing post surgery.
Post surgery, and after the full prk recovery period, patients can expect approximately 40/20 vision, but can improve over time as well. The prk recovery period will be at least one year in duration, and for this reason, patients must know what the risks are, what the most common risks are, and what can potentially go wrong, in order for them to determine whether or not the PRK procedure is the right one for them.
Knowing that the prk recovery period and procedure is different from Lasik, requires more care by the patient, will require them to come in to visit their surgeon on a regular basis post surgery, and knowing the potential risks, are all things which should be known by a patient prior to choosing to go through with the PRK procedure.
More and more people are interested to undergo eye corrective surgery. Two of the most popular methods to correct vision are LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) and PRK (Photo Refractive Keratectomy). Most people do not know which procedure to choose, as well as which suits them better. The best choice is to consult an Optometrist, and seek his or her opinion depending on your preferences, lifestyle and needs.
Because most people only know about LASIK and very little on PRK, they jump on doing LASIK surgery without knowing the difference. LASIK is not the best choice for everyone. You should be informed about what PRK is, and consider the differences before making your decision. Both procedures are different, although they both result in correction of one’s vision. Compared to PRK, most patients heal a lot faster after undergoing LASIK surgery.
On the other hand, for this with a weak heart, PRK is the better choice. PRK’s process is much simpler and safer where the cornea is scraped off using a brush, and it will then be reshaped with laser. LASIK, on the other hand, requires the surgeon to cut some parts of the cornea to create a flap, re-attach it, followed by the laser procedure. The creation and positioning of the flap has 15 to 20 possibilities of complications.
With PRK surgery, one year down the road even an optometrist cannot tell that you had done a vision corrective surgery. This is because the surgery is done in the cornea, and it fully heals in 4 to 6 months. For those who undergo LASIK surgery on the other hand, the flap can be seen until forever. Although LASIK has less discomfort post-operation, however the mark stays forever. PRK on the other hand, the patient might go through discomfort and need medication to alleviate them, however it will be able to fully heal with no mark whatsoever.
Both PRK and LASIK vision corrective surgeries might sometime require re-treatment for certain patients. The process for LASIK is that the surgeon will have to re-lift the flap, treat underneath it and close back the flap. Sometimes they will have to re-create the flap. For PRK, the treatment is done with a simple touch up on the surface just like the primary procedure.
It is totally up to you if you want to perform LASIK or PRK. It is best to consult an optometrist to ask which procedure suits you the best. Those who want fast recovery should go for LASIK, but those who are squeamish, as well as does not want to have a micro-mark should go for PRK.
PRK that stands for Photorefractive keratectomy and Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy (LASEK) are the two options one has to choose when it comes to correcting that sight issue with your eye. They are both widely practiced and are effective procedures to rid of any hindrance in your cornea that will lead on towards having bad eyesight. PRK is a procedure that is used to cure a person’s vision as well as end their dependence on eyeglasses or lenses. In order to get more details about this amazing wonder of science read the rest of the article, which will not give you basic information on PRK but also when and how one should get it.
Photorefractive Keratectomy
PRK is an eye treatment in which cool ultra violet light is used on the eye to reshape the upper layer of cornea. Cornea is the part of an eye through which light travels towards our retina and thus helping it make out the vision of an object. A cornea keeps on regenerating its cell, making its outer most layers uneven or thick for the light to properly pass. By using the light, which falls on the eye through the ultraviolet ray machine, an eye specialist balances the level, flatness and sleekness of the epidermis of cornea by removing the cause creating cells. The process is simple and takes less than a minute for an eye who has small prescription, and around a minute for people whose eyes have heavy prescription. Once the surgery is done you can go home straight.
This process is safe and many modern machine and techniques have brought great advancement in it. Now a computer system is there to makes things more precise by tracking the position of the eye lens as it moves in the socket. Thus if the lens goes out of focus or out of the range the laser stops itself and wait till it gets back then starts as it comes in the right range.
The Procedure
It is a simple procedure. The first step of which is having face set in a head-resting place by lying on the bed, then with a support system the machine which emits ultra violet light is placed and set on the eye which is to be treated. One eye at a time. Drops are put into eye to make it anesthetic and then laser is projected on it. While the light is at work, you will be asked to look at the light that is on top of the table. This makes it easier to focus, while the laser works without even knowing that it is working.
In PRK after the laser is done, lens is placed inside the eye. This lens keeps the eye safe for 2-3 days that is till the removed corneal layer comes back on.
Expectations from PRK
You can expect smooth sailing while getting the treatment. It is painless and happens without any discomfort. Care needs to be taken while going through recovery after the treatment. Your doctor may suggest a few Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial solutions for the eye, which are to be taken for months. Also in some cases, medicines to ease down the process of getting the cornea adjusted. There is less complexity in this procedure but since the upper layer of cornea is removed in it hence longer time for recovery is required. You have to take a few days off from work, and a week at the very least from exercise of any sort. These things can be stressful for the healing eye. Any work, which follows the three days that come after the surgery, must be light and should be at a place with less light. So that there can be much needed ease and relaxation for the eye. Rubbing the eye must also be discouraged till especially the doctor says it’s fine to do so.
It Takes Time
The process of complete recovery can take up to six months in PRK eye surgery. It is after this time period that you will get your full and better than ever sight back. This time period of six months is not what you will have to do after Lasik. It is only a part of PRK procedure. Vicodin and tetracain drops are used in this time period, prescribed by the doctor. Fans, dry air and too much computer need to be avoided in the first week as this can cause dryness of eyes. There are very less and almost rare chances that after the recovery period has passed the thought-for recovery doesn’t happens in that case one will have to use lenses or eye glasses to compensate for the eye sight number that didn’t get covered through the procedure. In addition, one thing which needs to be duly noted is that the eyes are operated individually and the next one needs to get done a few days after the first procedure. Rest is crucial in this treatment, as eyes need time to heal.
PRK like other laser treatments is expensive. Apart from the doctor’s fee the process itself takes cash from the pocket, hence be sure before getting this treatment. If you have made up your mind and have the needed finance then you can always go for the procedure. Some patients may have other health issues or concerns prior to the operation. Discuss them with your doctor and let him know of your medical history. If the issue is of much serious concern, the doctor will change and suggest the time for a surgery for your eye.
Even though the PRK surgically removing the epithelium of the cornea of an eye is tad bit expensive, it is proven a very safe and can be done again if the wanted results are not acquired. Discuss this with the doctor you are getting the surgery from with. He can tell you about the clinic policy and the procedure involved.
For those who choose to have PRK surgery, rather than Lasik, there are differences that must be noted about the prk recovery period and process, prior to choosing this form of surgery. For starters, prk recovery time is longer than that of Lasik eye surgery, and there are other post- operation instructions which the patient must adhere by. Most eye surgeons will require the patient come in for numerous follow up office exams, to check process, and to check the change in status. Typically, after the surgery, most surgeons require the patients to come in one day after, 4 days later, one week, one month, three months, six months, and following that once a year, to check on the progress and overall quality of the patient’s vision.
