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PRK
in Denver
Photo-Refractive Keratectomy
Have you ever wondered
what it would be
like to see without your glasses or contacts?
PRK is another method of surgically reshaping your cornea using the excimer
laser. It was the first procedure to use the excimer laser to treat
many types of refractive errors and is still the procedure of choice
for certain patients. With PRK, your Denver
eye surgeon will first remove the very top layer of the cornea (epithelium),
the excimer laser is used to reshape the surface of the cornea and the
epithelium is then allowed to grow back in naturally.
PRK is for those
who:
- want to reduce or eliminate
their dependence on glasses or contacts
- are over 18 years of age
- have had a stable eye prescription for at least one year
- have no health issues affecting their eyes
- have corneas too thin for LASIK
- have large pupils
What
to Expect on Surgery Day
First, the eye is numbed using eye drop "anesthesia." Then,
your Denver eye surgeon removes a thin, protective layer of tissue
that covers the cornea, called the epithelium. During the procedure,
your Denver eye doctor will instruct you to look directly at the laser's
fixation light. Then, a small amount of tissue will be removed from
the surface of the cornea. The amount of cornea removed depends on
the amount of correction needed. The surgery takes less than 2 minutes.
Following the procedure, a special contact lens may be applied and
is worn for 2-5 days..
After PRK, patients usually
wear a bandage contact lens for 48-72 hours or until the epithelium
heals. Because the epithelium was removed and is healing, patients usually
feel some discomfort and experience blurry vision for up to three to
five days after the procedure. Eye drops and other medications are prescribed
to ease discomfort. It can take a few days to a few months for patients
to fully reach their optimal outcome.
The major benefit of PRK
is that the integrity and strength of the corneal dome is retained.
The precision and accuracy of the excimer laser has made PRK successful
in the treatment of myopia. PRK is not recommended for everyone, but
most patients are eligible for the procedure.
If you
are considering vision correction,
find out if PRK may be able to help you see clearer.
For
more information on what LASIK and other vision correction
procedures can do for you, Contact
a Denver eye surgeon
Schedule
a LASIK consultation with a Denver eye doctor
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