Hummel Eye Associates - Oklahoma LASIK Eye Surgeon

In Oklahoma City and Edmond, Oklahoma

Thursday, May 8, 2008

How Does PRK Work?

PRK is basically the same vision correction as LASIK, but it’s a better option for some people. The important difference is that in PRK there is no corneal flap created. If you have extra-thin corneas, or too-steep corneas, flap creation is risky. It could be cut too deeply, and interfere with the deeper layer of the cornea where the laser does its work.

People with steeply curved corneas are severely nearsighted. To be a good candidate for LASIK, your prescription must fall within certain parameters. In other words, the curvature of your cornea must be flat enough that the microkeratome can accurately create that thin flap of surface tissue.

In PRK, instead of creating a flap, the procedure removes some surface cells altogether. The laser then has access to the treatment level it needs, and the surface cells grow back afterwards. The thickness of cells removed is less than the thickness of a flap.

Recovery after PRK is longer, since those cells must regrow. You would wear a bandage contact lens to protect the cornea while it recovered. You would see some instant vision improvement, but the full extent of improvement would not be evident for several weeks.

PRK is an excellent alternative to LASIK. It is actually an older procedure than LASIK, and has stood the test of time well.

posted by Patti at 3:11 PM 0 comments

 

(405)755-6111
Hummel Eye Associates
See Your Best…See Hummel!
4205 McAuley Blvd. #401
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
Fax:(405)755-6298

Disclaimer: The information provided on LASIK, Cataract and Advanced Eye surgery for patients in Edmond, Norman, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is intended to be a public service. It is not intended to be medical advice, but to provide information about qualified Cataract and LASIK surgeons in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area.
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