How is PRK different from LASIK?
   
In both procedures, the excimer laser is used to sculpt the cornea (the “front” of the eye) to enable light to focus correctly on the retina, thus obtaining clearer vision. The difference is that with PRK only the surface layer of cells (the epithelium) is removed and the laser is then applied to the cornea. A soft, clear bandage contact lens is then placed on the eye to aid in surface healing, usually within 4-6 days. With LASIK, there is a horizontal incision cut into the surface of the eye, which is then pulled aside. The laser is applied under this flap, and the flap is then repositioned on the surface of the eye. With PRK no cuts or incisions are made. The same laser is used in both surgeries.
 
Will PRK give me vision that is as clear as LASIK?     

Due to the latest technology, people who have PRK will normally have a visual outcome that is as good as patients who have LASIK, and frequently the results from PRK are even better. It takes a little longer for the best possible vision to settle in after PRK, but the long-term results for patients who choose PRK are equal or better than those who opt for LASIK.
 
Is PRK painful?

While patients are undergoing PRK, their eye is numbed with anesthetic eye drops. You will normally feel nothing other than a slight feeling of pressure, and often not even that. After surgery, when the numbing drops have worn off, it is normal to feel some stinging or a foreign-body sensation. Your eye may be watery or sensitive to light. We recommend that post-surgery you take the rest of the day off, go home and have a nap or lie down and rest your eyes for two to three hours. For two to three days you may have some light sensitivity, watering of the eye, scratchiness or intermittent irritation. This is normally controlled by using the artificial tears and the anti-inflammatory drops that you are prescribed for the days. Very few people report a high level of pain afterward, but if you do, there are additional eye drops that can be given.  

How long does it take for my vision to improve after PRK surgery?

Most people notice some improvement in the first day or so after surgery, but the vision will tend to fluctuate for the first few days afterwards, until the epithelium is healed and the bandage contact lens is removed. Once the lens is removed, the vision starts improving rapidly. Since Dr. Sher usually operates one eye at a time, with a wait of three to four weeks in between eyes, the vast majority of patients feel that they have good enough vision to rely on the first eye at 3 or 4 weeks post-surgery. Patients’ eyesight continues to improve for another several weeks, and sometimes is still getting sharper a few months after surgery. We do not schedule surgery on the second eye until the patient feels that the first eye is seeing well.

How can I find out if I’m a candidate for PRK?

To make an appointment with Dr. Sher for a thorough exam and specialized testing, just call the Refractive Surgery Coordinator, Nancy Read, at 612-436-2144, Monday through Friday. The examination takes about two hours and includes both the testing for PRK and a full routine and medical eye check-up.

These frequently asked questions were written by Nancy Read, Refractive Surgery Coordinator, Eye Care Associates

Originally from upstate New York, Nancy Read has lived in several U.S. states and the U.K. A former EMT, she started working in ophthalmology shortly before joining Eye Care Associates in 1995. Nancy started working specifically with refractive surgery patients and Dr. Sher later that same year. Dr. Sher performed PRK on her highly-nearsighted eyes in 1997. Nancy had worn glasses since second grade and says that her favorite part of her job is helping others to gain the terrific vision that she now has.

Here is an interview with a patient detailing how he made the decision to have PRK surgery and describing the outcome of his procedure.

What made you decide to have laser vision correction surgery?

“I have been wearing glasses for 42 years and they have continually been a hindrance to me when I was active in sports. When I was deployed to Iraq in 2003-04 my glasses were a constant disabler there as well. My glasses made it difficult to properly wear goggles and they quickly became hazy in the dust and eventually became scratched from the constant cleaning. These problems were the motivation for my PRK procedure.”

“I decided to have the PRK surgery when I heard of the opportunity to have it done for deploying soldiers. A co-worker of mine had the surgery prior to me and had nothing but positive comments about the surgery and Dr. Sher. I contacted Dr. Sher's office and they made it an effortless process.”

How long had you been thinking about it before you went ahead?

“I had looked into having the LASIK surgery more than a year ago but wasn't sure if it would be conducive to my military status. I had never really known about PRK until I talked with my co-worker and investigated it online at Dr. Sher's web site.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW

Sunglasses: A Must-Have Fashion Accessory.

When enjoying time outdoors this summer, it is absolutely essential to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays with sunglasses and/or hats. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are strongest in the summer and overexposure to the summer sun’s strong rays can burn the corneas and cause painful, temporary blindness.

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Dr. Neal Sher is the author of an article linking Opti-Free Replenish® Solution to inflamed corneas

Neal A Sher MD, FACS recently co-authored a provocative article on the possible link between a leading contact lens multipurpose lens solution (Opti-Free Replenish) and inflamed corneas.  The article was published in Ocular Surgery News on April 10, 2013, as well as posted on many online sites. He presented this recently at a symposium in Seattle.

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