If you are tired of living with contact lenses and eyeglasses but are not a good candidate for LASIK, PRK laser surgery may be a good match for you. This procedure is similar to LASIK, with a few differences, and can significantly improve your vision! Our team of skilled eye care specialists has the skills and expertise to help you improve your vision for the better.
What is PRK?
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a form of laser eye surgery that corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. It does this by changing the shape of the cornea, which is responsible for bending light to the center of the retina. Refractive errors occur when the shape of the cornea causes focused light to not land on the retina, or the eye is too long or short.. This treatment was the original refractive laser surgery and can be a great option for patients who are not ideal candidates for LASIK or other laser eye surgeries.
PRK can be used to correct the following:
· Nearsightedness.
· Farsightedness.
· Astigmatism.
The PRK Procedure
During the PRK procedure, numbing drops will first be placed in the eyes, and a mild sedative may also be offered to help calm you for the procedure. A speculum will then be placed over the eyes to prevent you from blinking. The very top layer of corneal cells will be removed to gain access to the next corneal layer. You will then be asked to focus on a spot of light to keep your eyes from moving around. A precise excimer laser will then be used to reshape your cornea. Lastly, your surgeon will place a soft contact lens over the cornea to act as a sort of bandage. This entire process takes about 10 minutes per eye.
Following the procedure, soreness and slight burning or stinging of the eyes may occur. The top layer of corneal cells will regrow within a week, and your eye doctor can then remove the contact lens. You may be prescribed anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops to use during recovery, as well as lubricating eye drops to prevent dry eye. The majority of patients can resume driving and normal everyday activities after about one week or less, though it takes about 3-6 months for the eyes to fully heal.
Candidates for PRK
Individuals with overall good health who have refractive vision errors and wish to improve their vision can often benefit from PRK surgery. This procedure is usually recommended for people who have thin corneal tissue since no flap is created. It can also be a good option for those with dry eyes. A consultation appointment at our office is needed to determine if this procedure is right for you.
Contact Us to Learn More
To learn more about PRK surgery or to schedule a consultation appointment, contact our office today! Our friendly staff at Eye Care Physicians of New Jersey will be happy to help you in any way that they can.