I had PRK 5 weeks ago and I know I cannot have any enhancements due to the left over cornea being in the safe range, but it cannot get any thinner than what I have now.

I hope the two articles below help answer the questions as to why enhancements are necessary, and when it is advisable against them.

Essentially, the procedure is as follows:

1. Your eyelid is clamped open and local anaesthetic and antibiotic drops are put in.

2. The surgeon cuts a thin, hinged, circular flap on the front of your cornea. This can be done either by a blade (keratome) or a laser (known as intralase). This involves an uncomfortable pressure sensation for just under a minute, but should not be painful.

3. The flap is lifted off the eye and the laser applied, your prescription having already been programmed in to the machine. The lasering lasts anything from a few seconds upwards (in my case, 37 seconds owing to the high prescription).

4. The flap is replaced back on the eye and more drops are applied.

5. The surgeon checks the flap is in the correct position, then does the other eye if applicable.

It took less than 15 minutes to do both my eyes before I was back in my room.

The aftercare is just as important as the procedure – you must avoid rubbing or touching your eyes for a couple of weeks, wear protective shields at night initially, and apply eye drops several times per day.

I am seeing my surgeon again next week to see about getting a further procedure done to get my vision a little better – it is vital that you have a chance to speak to the surgeon beforehand so that you are properly informed of the risks and likely consequences, and I personally would avoid going to any clinic where all the pre-op assessments and consultations are done by sales staff rather than the surgeon themself.

For more detailed information, you could have a look at the site below which provides a good summary. And in answer to your question, whilst a thin flap is cut on the front surface of the eye, they do not actually open the eyball!

Indian Health Guru Consultants is very famous in India They arrange Dental surgery, jaw surgery, Lasik eye surgery, Dental Implants etc for foreign patients in India. I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and magazines- about their patient stories.
They arrange financing for USA, Canadian, UK and other international patients who plan to have surgery abroad for low cost, as dental and eye surgery is not covered by insurance. They also have photos pasted of their International patients. You can checkout their website. There are huge cost savings. As a doctor I personally believe that surgery can be easily handled in India, as the quality of healthcare available In India is simply best in the world. The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.

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Hope this helps.

A 1999 study published in the Jounral of Ophthalmology (1) found that somewhere between 14.6% and 19.2% of eyes treated with LASIK required touch-up (referred to as 'retreatment'.) This study was large – over 2000 patients. These patients required treatment of both eyes for myopia – near-sightedness, and it was a few years ago, so things might have changed. I think that this is probably a good estimate for you to work with.

We know that if you don't need a touch-up within six months, you almost certainly won't need it after 11 years. (2) We don't know about longer periods than that.

It terms of whether or not it is worth it, the answer is that the company selling the touch-up plan makes money – a lot of it. If they didn't, they wouldn't offer the plan. Don't waste your money – if you need a touch-up, it won't cost much over $1000 anyway.

One thing that I did do was research the doctors in my area. I ended up paying almost $4000 for my surgery, but I got the best. (your eyes are nothing to skimp on).
There are some downsides to consider. 1) It is sort of a trade off. You get nice clear distant vision, but as you age, your reading vision will decline. At around 40 (average) you will need reading glasses at about the same strength of your current distant vision. On the other hand, everybody loses reading vision as they age anyway. I figure. I would have ended up needing reading glasses when I get old anyway, plus I much prefer only wearing glasses for reading as opposed to all the time for the rest of my life. Also, I am 37 now, and my reading vision is perfect so far.
2) You may hear some people say that you will see a halo around lights after the surgery, but this is temperary, and is mostly just around LED lights, and it never bothered me much.
A doctor will map your eye so that the best outcome is achieved. So as long as you find a good doctor, you will be fine.

The actual procedure takes about 10 min. total. They lay you down under the machine, numb your eyes with drops. Then, they place a thing around your eye to hold the lid open (doesn't hurt, just a little pressure) then they will tell you to look at a light and the laser cuts the flap. The doctor folds the flap back, and for a second your vision goes blurry. Then the laser zaps off the correct amount of your cornia in the exact spots that your eye map dictates. Then the dr. folds the flap back down and then he will use a surgical wipe to wipe down the flap on your eye. You will see all of this, but all you will feel is wetness from the solution. Then, he swings you around under the other side of the machine, and does everything on the other eye. Plus, you will feel totally relaxed, because they give you a valium before starting.