Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can all be corrected using PRK. It’s possible that you won’t need your glasses or contacts if you do it correctly. However, you must do a few things in advance of the surgery. To begin, you’ll visit your laser eye surgeon to talk about surgery.
These sessions with your doctor are an excellent opportunity to ask questions so that you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare. The more prepared you are, the more quickly you will recuperate and have a successful procedure. Check on the tips below for the finest PRK preparation.
Days Leading Up to the Procedure
You can get assistance from your doctor before your major surgery to discuss how best to prepare for the procedure. To begin, you’ll want to get any prescription medications you’ll require during your rehabilitation. Additionally, if you wear contact lenses, you may be urged to take them out for a few days before the treatment.
Procedures for Getting There and Getting Back
One of the most crucial things to remember is that following your prk eye surgery, you will not be able to drive straight; as a result, you should talk to your friends and family about who will drive you to and from the surgery.
The Day of Your Surgery
On the morning of your surgery, there are a few things to keep in mind. To begin, have your usual breakfast, but limit your caffeine intake to one cup of tea or coffee. While you are allowed to shower, your doctor may urge you not to wear makeup, eye cream, facial creams, perfume, aftershave, cologne, or hair spray. You can take your meds as usual on any given day unless your doctor recommends it differently.
Arriving for Your Consultation
When you arrive for your appointment, you will most likely be required to check-in and complete any remaining paperwork. Just in case, bring your ID and insurance card with you. Following that, your doctor will meet with you to discuss your procedure and get it started.
Candidates for PRK and Their Requirements
Different procedures are used for different laser eye operations like LASIK and PRK. These procedures, as well as the length of healing and cost, may make one type of laser eye surgery a better fit for you than the other.
PRK is frequently suggested for patients with extremely thin corneal tissue. It’s also a wonderful option for individuals who suffer from dry eyes, as the flap approach might exacerbate dry eye problems.
Candidates for laser vision surgery must meet a number of requirements, including good overall eye health, cost of prk eye surgery, and a stable lens prescription. PRK or other laser eye operations will not stop myopia or hyperopia that is still progressing. If your lens prescription hasn’t remained steady for at least a year before surgery, your vision may deteriorate.
The Steps Involved in PRK
To begin, numbing drops will be applied to your eyes by your eye surgeon or another eye care specialist. If you’re apprehensive, they might ask if you want to take a light sedative.
Your surgeon will put a speculum over your eyes to prevent you from blinking. Some surgeons utilize a suction ring to keep the eye motionless during PRK. The suction ring will apply slight pressure on your eye, but the numbing drops will shut out any other sensations.
To access the next corneal layer, your surgeon will first remove the epithelium (the top layer of corneal cells). The process might require a surgical instrument, an alcohol solution, or a “buffing” device, depending on the surgeon, will be used to remove it.
You’ll focus on a target light after the epithelium is gone. The surgeon will reshape the cornea with a computer-controlled excimer laser while you are focused. This laser eliminates small quantities of tissue from the cornea to create the precise corneal shapes required for improved eyesight. Actually, it normally takes less than ten minutes for each eye to complete the procedure.
To finalize, your surgeon will apply a soft contact lens to the cornea as a bandage. Normally, after a few minutes of resting your eyes, you will be let go.
Recovery Time for PRK
It’s critical to take a few hours of rest following PRK eye surgery. When the numbing drops wear off, you’ll probably feel sore, have a “foreign body” sensation, and feel a slight burning and stinging. Taking a nap for the first few hours can help you avoid the worst of the agony.
In about a week, the removed epithelium will regrow on its own, and your eye doctor will be able to remove the bandage contact. You’ll have a hazy vision and increased light sensitivity for the first one to two weeks.
Most people can see enough to drive and engage in daily activities within two weeks. However, full recovery can take three to six months and more prolonged in rare cases. For several months following PRK, it’s typical to have vision changes, halos and glare, light sensitivity, and poor night vision. Don’t give up on the process; just attend all of your follow-up appointments so that the eye surgeon near me can track your recovery.
