PRK(photorefractive keratectomy) eye surgery is the predecessor to LASIK eye surgery. Before the development of LASIK into the preferred method of eye surgery, PRK was the most common form of eye surgery. PRK eye surgery like LASIK is also a laser based surgery.
PRK Eye Surgery : PRK was invented in the eighties, but it was not used in America until 1995. As a matter of fact, Americans had to go to Canada to undergo a PRK eye surgery.
PRK is the preferred surgery over LASIK when patients possess a thin cornea. PRK surgery can be performed on patients suffering from both near-sightedness and far-sightedness. It can also be performed to correct astigmatism.
The use of excimer laser as part of the PRK surgery, which uses a cool ultra-violet beam makes sure only the affected part is corrected(removes tissues covering the cornea and reshapes it) without causing a damage to the surrounding tissue. This enables light to focus on to the retina properly, thus enabling clear vision.
Pre-requisites to the PRK Surgery: Before a surgeon can prescribe the surgery to a patient, the surgeon checks for a few pre-requisites that qualify the patient for a PRK surgery.
- The patient undergoing the surgery must at least be 20 years old.
- He must be wearing glasses and his prescription should have been stable for an year at least.
- He must possess healthy eyes rid off any kind of diseases(hereditary and acquired).
- Moreover, the patient should believe in the surgery and it’s implications.
PRK Success Rate: PRK eye surgery has known to have had a phenomenal success rate for more than ten years now. Post this surgery, patients have always reported that their need for glasses or contacts no longer existed.
Almost 300,000 thousand patients across 47 countries have affirmatively confirmed the safety and gains of a PRK surgery.
PRK After Effects and Risks: Like with any surgery, PRK also is known to have a few effects post surgery. But, these are trivial and heal pretty quickly. Also, the risks associated with this surgery are minimal.
- As already mentioned above, the laser used in the surgery gets rid of the excess corneal tissues covering the cornea. This might cause the eye to go black, but the eye returns to normal within 2-3 days. Very rarely, do we need to undergo extra medication for quick healing.
- Slight irritation and an itch in the eye is common after the surgery, but even this takes no time to heal.
The after effects may vary from person to person. But, enough rest must be provided post PRK eye surgery to ensure a quick and safe healing. Very rarely do people need to undergo a second surgery to correct their vision.
