All You Should Know About PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)

The eyes are one of the five sense organs that play a vital role in getting you through your daily activities by allowing you to see things. As a result of the indispensability of the eyes, you should take utmost care of them to prevent them from damage which can lead to impairment or blindness. The eyes are protected by the eyelids, thin movable tissues made of skin and muscles. However, you may develop eye defects due to heredity or abuse of the eyes, which may impair your sight. To treat these eye conditions permanently, you may need to see a PRK surgeon near you for photorefractive keratectomy surgery.

What is PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)?

Photorefractive Keratectomy, also referred to as PRK surgery, is a type of refractive laser eye surgery that helps to correct eye defects such as myopia, astigmatism, etc. A refractive eye problem occurs when your eyes do not bend light as properly as they should, thereby limiting your ability to see. While some of these eye defects can be corrected with recommended eyeglasses or contact lenses, a photorefractive keratectomy surgery corrects the problem with the eyes directly, thereby not requiring you to wear corrective lenses.

Why Would I Need A Photorefractive Keratectomy Surgery?

If you have refractive eye issues, you might need to see our eye doctor in Monterey to undergo PRK surgery. The following are eye issues that might require you to undergo PRK surgery:

• Myopia (nearsightedness): Myopia is a refractive eye error that makes it hard to see distant objects until you are very close to them. However, it is easy for you to see things very close to you. The structure of your eye causes myopia. When your eyeball is too long or the protective outer layer of your eye, known as the cornea, is too curved, it causes images to focus in front of the retina instead of on the retina directly. This leads to blurred vision.
• Hyperopia (Farsightedness): Hyperopia is an eye defect that allows you to see things that are far away ideally better than things that are up close. This occurs when the light rays do not focus as they should. If your eyeball is too short and the power to focus is weak, the images which should focus directly on the retina go behind the retina.
• Astigmatism: Astigmatism is an eye defect caused by the shape of your eye. It occurs when the cornea is not completely round. This causes light to get bent in one direction than another. This causes objects in the distance to look blurry or wavy.

Conditions requiring PRK Surgery

While these eye defects can be treated through photorefractive keratectomy surgery, not everyone with these defects is eligible for PRK surgery at an eye clinic. To undergo PRK surgery, you must meet the following conditions:

• You must have healthy eyes.
• You must possess healthy corneas.
• You must be up to 18 years of age or older.
• Your defect must not have changed in the past year.

You are not eligible for PRK surgery if:

• You are pregnant.
• You have any disease that affects healing.
• You have advanced glaucoma.
• You have scars on your eye.
• You are breastfeeding.
• You have eye infections.
• You have illnesses or injuries of the cornea.
• Your defect keeps changing.

Photorefractive Keratectomy Surgery Procedure

Before PRK surgery, your medical history will be evaluated. Also, your eyes will be tested to measure your pupil size, refractive error, cornea, and general health of your eyes.

During PRK surgery, your surgeon will first numb your eyes with eye drops to prevent you from feeling pain. Then a holder will be put in your eyes to prevent you from blinking. The outer layer of your cornea, known as the epithelium, is then removed with the aid of a brush, blade, laser, or alcohol solution. Using a laser, your surgeon reshapes your cornea. You are then given antibiotic eye drops, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drops, and steroid drops. To reduce irritation during the healing process, a clear contact lens is placed at the end of the surgery. The whole procedure for PRK surgery takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

If you are looking for a PRK surgeon in Monterey, you can call or schedule an appointment at our eye clinic in 93940 today!