subject: Another Eye Surgery Besides Lasik: PRK [print this page] At present, anyone who wants to correct vision through a surgery is likely to choose LASIK, because it is reported to be one of the best eye surgeries where new technologies and advanced equipments are provided. However, the fact is that not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. For those people, another eye surgery may serves as a better alternative. That is PRK.
PRK, the abbreviation of Photorefractive keratectomy, is a laser eye surgery, which actually emerges earlier than LASIK. The success rate of PRK is about 80%. Most patients who have ever undergone a PRK would claim that they are happy to abandon their corrective glasses and troublesome contact lenses.
PRK differs from Lasik in the way reshaping the abnormal cornea. In a PRK surgery, no flap will be created, because the surgeon, applying a laser, reshape the cornea directly by removing thin layers of cells from the outer surface. It results in a longer recovery time compared with that needed after a Lasik surgery. And great pain and discomfort are possible for one to suffer during the procedure. Furthermore, PRK patients are impossible to see clearly immediately after the surgery. Usually two months are needed for them to wait for a clear vision. Moreover, Since the PRK procedure actually removes a portion of the epithelium, patients usually are required to wear a temporary bandage contact lens for protection for five or six days, until the epithelium regenerates.
Like LASIK, PRK patients may meet with dry eyes symptom after the surgery, therefore, lubricating eye drops or artificial tears should be carried about often. In order to prevent possible eye infection, the eye doctor will prescribe anitibiotics and you would be asked to take on time. Another side effect concerned is that PRK performs not so well in night vision correction. One has to take longer time to see clearly at night. As a result, in the first few months after PRK eye surgery, it is not advisable for a patient to drive at night, in case of, on one hand, car accidents and on the other hand, affection from the glare and halo.
In spite that laser eye surgery, either LASIK or PRK, is permanent, it does not mean that once having an eye surgery, you would see clearly forever. Natural aging process would also change your eye condition. And then, maybe another surgery is needed. However, some doctors offer an inexpensive upgrade so that if you ever need the procedure repeated.
