What You Don’t Know about PRK Surgery Could Cost You!

August 15, 2009 · Posted in eye surgeon 

The idea of PRK eye surgery is an appealing one for anyone struggling with glasses or contacts. You want something that is easier and simplier, however you may not understand all the jargon associated with the procedure. Keep reading to find out more about PRK eye surgery.

PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, is a type of laser surgery used to right moderate near sightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Like other laser eye surgeries,your vision is corrected by reshaping the cornea of the eye. The cornea is the real, front part of your eyeball. Light travels through the cornea and is focused on the retina in the back of your eye. If the cornea is misshapen, the light does not focus on the retina, and your insight is impaired.

In PRK eye surgery, the eye surgeon uses a cool, pulsating laser beam on the surface of the cornea. In Lasik eye surgery, a flap is cut in the cornea, and the laser beam is directed under the cornea.

PRK is very accurate in correcting nearsightedness. About 80% of patients have 20/20 vision without glasses one year after surgery. PRK in general costs about the same as Lasik eye surgery. The recovery time to best corrected vision is longer with PRK than it is with Lasik eye surgery. The typical PRK patient has about 80% of their best insight after a month, and 95% to 100% after 3 months. Lasik corrects insight much faster than that.

There will be some discomfort for the first 24 to 48 hours after PRK eye surgery, and frequently patients expertise light sensitivity as well.

PRK is performed under local anesthesia, and takes about 10 minutes for both eyes. Generally, a bandage contact lens is called immediately after the surgery. This contact lens is worn for three to four days to allow the surface of the eye to heal. You will visit your surgeon the day after surgery, and probably several times over the next six months. Once the surface of the eye has healed, the bandage contact lens will be removed.

Your vision might fluctuate for the first few weeks following surgery. Your eyes will be dry, even if they dont feel like it. Your physician will prescribe eye drops to prevent infection and keep your eyes moist.

Your vision will gradually improve over time. After two to three weeks, you will see well enough to drive a car. Your best vision, but, will not be reached until 6 weeks, to 6 months after the surgery.

PRK has become less common recently. More eye surgeons prefer Lasik procedures because healing time is faster, and the results are more predictable. The final decision on what type of eye surgery to have is up to you. Be sure to understand all the information, and ask lots of questions.

Watch the video related to prk

Avenue Laser in New York City. It is the last few seconds of the right eye, and the entire procedure of the left eye. Pros: State of the art equipment; friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive staff. Cons: I didn’t get to meet Dr. Chynn until right before the surgery (their website says otherwise); recovery time was longer than alluded to (and yes, I know Lasek recovery takes longer than Lasik); Post Op prescription medication was expensive and Insurance did not cover much of the cost of …

Help answer the question about prk eye cost

Lasik or PRK? Cost? Benefit?
In Orange County, CA, I was referred to a laser specialist who offers both Lasik and PRK. Apparently Lasik is cheaper but PRK has benefits.

With a discount, PRK is $3000 per eye.

1) Is PRK better?
2) Which services in Orange County have better results or lower prices?

Any feedback would be helpful.

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Comments

4 Responses to “What You Don’t Know about PRK Surgery Could Cost You!”

  1. jayonwheels on August 8th, 2009 6:14 pm

    Johnathan:
    I had the same procedure last thursday. The op itself wasnt painful however I experienced severe pain in one eye two days after surgery and since then the sight has been very poor in that eye, to be honest it was more painful than anything iv been through before including various snapped bones but I think I was just unlucky. At the moment I can rarely see well without constant drops and would not recommend it, Most people I know who’ve had it done think its great though.

  2. Sunshine on August 8th, 2009 6:33 pm

    Hi, my name is Dr. Jay Lustbader, and I am an ophthalmologist with LasikPlus.
    You will find that the cost of Lasik or PRK will vary from provider to provider. When comparing prices, there are several important factors to keep in mind. One is what technology you are getting for the price. Some surgeons offer all-laser Lasik, while others are still using a blade. Some surgeons offer custom wavefront treatments, others do not. You want to be sure you are getting the most up-to-date technology for the price you pay. A second consideration is whether the price includes coverage for enhancements, if an additional touch-up is needed in the future. Finally, in addition to price, you should consider the experience of the surgeon and the quality of the staff when deciding where to have the procedure done.
    The best way to investigate these issues and to find out if Lasik is right for you is to have a thorough exam and consultation with a doctor. At LasikPlus, we provide a free comprehensive Lasik exam and consultation using the latest technology. For additional information or to set up a free consultative exam with your local LasikPlus doctor, you may call 1-866-953-0282 or visit us on the web at http://tinyurl.com/Dr-Lustbader. Other helpful resources are the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Eye Surgery Education Council.

  3. johnnymccoll on August 8th, 2009 6:45 pm

    I’m thinking of having laser eye surgery in the UK. Any post op meds I might need are covered by our National Health Service so I’m lucky in that regard.

    I was wondering about the procedure and recovery. Is it very painful? I know there is a local anaesthetic involved during the procedure but I’m told post op can be horrendous.

    Also, what was the recovery time for you?

    Thanks in advance for your help.

    Jonathan (Balloch, Loch Lomond, Scotland).

  4. tolstoi1 on August 8th, 2009 7:12 pm

    PRK is better , but both share hazards , you need to read the consent of the operation carefully before you go for it .

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