Eyesight is one of your most important senses and is necessary to enjoy the best quality of life. Up to 80 percent of your perception comes through your sense of sight. So, you should actively protect your eyes from eye diseases and reduce your odds of vision loss and blindness.

Photorefractive Keratectomy

PRK is a form of laser eye surgery to improve eyesight by correcting refractive errors. Examples of refractive errors are astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness. PRK surgery uses a laser to change the cornea’s shape to improve how light rays focus on the retina. You may get PRK surgery on one or both eyes based on your specific needs. This procedure predates LASIK, but both are similar and aim to reshape the cornea to improve the eye’s ability to focus.

You may be a good candidate for LASIK and PRK or better suited to one or the other. Whatever the case, it would help to understand laser eye surgery before undergoing any procedure.

Success Rate

Photorefractive keratectomy boasts a high success rate. The FDA puts the average success rate at roughly 95 percent. That means most people who undergo this procedure enjoy significant vision improvement without using corrective lenses. Approximately 70 percent of patients achieve up to 20/20 vision, with nearly 92 percent attaining 20/40 vision or better after surgery.

How Long Do PRK Results Generally Last?

Just like LASIK surgery, PRK surgery results are permanent, but the procedure cannot prevent your eyes from aging. However, it is an excellent option if you are looking to minimize your dependence on prescription lenses.

How to Make the Results Last Longer

Photorefractive keratectomy is a minimally invasive procedure. Your eye surgeon will recommend a recovery protocol that will promote faster healing and better results. These tips can also help make the results last longer.

• Avoid spending too much time on activities that cause eyestrain
  
  

• Wear protective sunglasses while outdoors and avoid staring at harsh lights
  
  

• Take steps to prevent dry eye syndrome
  
  

• Avoid dusty, smoky, and dry rooms and venues
  
  

• Keep your follow-up appointments and undergo regular comprehensive eye exams

Can You Get PRK Twice?

PRK focuses on the reshaping of the cornea. You may assume that you will not require further treatment once you undergo this procedure. It would help to understand the process and the changes it makes to the cornea are permanent. The physical changes will not start to wear off months or years later.

However, your eye doctor may recommend a second PRK surgery under certain circumstances. Two of the most common reasons include:

To Improve Vision Acuity

Most PRK surgeries improve vision enough for patients to see clearly without corrective lenses. However, the procedure may fail to achieve optimal visual acuity in approximately 2 percent of patients. Eye doctors recommend a subsequent operation in such cases to ensure maximum effectiveness.

To Address Presbyopia

The natural aging process affects the eyes like the rest of the body. That can cause eye and vision changes. For example, cellular changes within the lens can cause it to harden and become less flexible as you age. That will make it less able to adjust to help you focus on objects. Medically known as presbyopia, this condition affects virtually everyone.

Conclusion

If you choose to undergo a subsequent PRK surgery, do not worry. The second procedure is usually similar to the original one. Your eye surgeon will evaluate your eyes to determine whether you are a good candidate.

For more on PRK surgery, visit Laser Vision Delaware at our Wilmington, Delaware office. Call 302-656-2020 to schedule an appointment today.