LASIK & PRK
LASIK or more commonly laser eye surgery is a type of refractive surgery that corrects myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism. PRK or photorefractive keratometry, accomplishes the same job as LASIK, but differs in its surgical procedure.
What are the different types of treatment?
LASIK and PRK both use a laser to reshape the cornea, which is the clear outer layer of the eye that helps focus light so you can see clearly. However, the surgical procedure is slightly different. LASIK creates a thin flap in the outermost part of the cornea and then a laser is used to reshape your inner cornea, the part of the eye that helps focus the light. In addition, LASIK will leave a permanent flap which may cause complications. On the other hand, PRK removes the entire outer layer of the cornea, relying on the body’s ability to regenerate the corneal cells and having no permanent surgical flap.
Is it safe?
To help better understand the potential risk of severe problems that can result from LASIK, the FDA, the National Eye Institute and the Department of Defense launched the LASIK Quality of Life Collaboration Project. This project examined patient-reported outcomes with LASIK and consisted of four phases: a pilot phase, phase I, II, and III, with the last two phases being completed in 2014. Based on their study, they found that up to 46 percent of participants, who had no visual symptoms before the surgery, reported at least one visual symptom three months after surgery. The most common visual symptom that these participants experienced was developed halos (rings around a light source). Up to 40 percent of participants who did not experience halos before LASIK experienced it three months following surgery. In addition, up to 28 percent of participants with no symptoms of dry eyes before LASIK reported dry eye symptoms three months after their surgery. With surgery, there will always be post-operative problems, so one must weigh the benefits and risks associated with these types of procedures.
What can I expect after treatment and how long will it take to recover?
After the operation, patients are usually given a course of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eyedrops for the following weeks. Patients are also told to rest and use dark eyeglasses to protect the eye from bright lights. Additionally, patients are also given protective goggles to prevent rubbing of the eyes when asleep, as well as reduce the discomfort of dry eyes. After the procedure, patients will experience dry eyes, so they are required to moisturize their eyes with preservative-free tears and follow the directions on their prescriptive eye drops. However, to minimize the risk of any complications, patients will be adequately informed by their surgeons of the importance of post-operative care.