What are LASIK and PRK?
LASIK (Laser Assisted Intrastromal Keratomileusis) is a procedure whereby a laser is used to reshape the front surface of your eye. This procedure will correct for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. LASIK has been successfully performed and FDA approved for about 12 years.
LASIK is performed, first by numbing the front surface of your eye with an anesthetic eye drop. During the procedure your eye is held open so you can not blink, but is kept moist, and the patient is instructed to watch a fixating red light. The laser automatically tracks your eye movement at 100 X's per sec so if you look off center the laser will stop instantly. Dr. Giltner will than reposition your eye and the laser will resume the treatment right where it left off. The surgery is virtually painless and very quick. For most corrections, the actual laser time is less than one minute.
Using a microkeratome or a laser, a very thin flap of tissue is made on the front surface of your eye. This flap is folded back allowing the doctor to treat the underlying surface with the Excimer laser which removes the proper amount of corneal tissue with amazing accuracy. This is a cold laser and as the treatment is done, the front surface of your eye is gently reshaped. The flap is then laid down in its original position where it bonds after only a few minutes of healing time.
From start to finish most LASIK procedures take less than 10 minutes. Afterward, you will be instructed to go home and rest. You will be given antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops to use after your procedure. You will also be instructed to use lubricating drops frequently after your procedure. Many patients walk out of surgery already able to see better.
Most patients report little or no postoperative pain. Nearly all patients are seeing better by the next day. We often have to remind patients that there is a recovery period. Most patients are able to return to work and their normal activities by the next day. You will be asked to return for follow-up appointments during the first year following your procedure.
PRK (photo-refractive keratectomy) was actually the first FDA approved laser procedure to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. We have been performing this procedure for about 15 years. PRK is done exactly like LASIK using the same Excimer laser. The difference between these procedures is that less corneal tissue is required to perform PRK. There is no flap of tissue with PRK. Instead, after the eye is numbed, the surgeon removes a thin layer of epithelium (skin) from the cornea. The laser treatment is then completed and the eye is covered with a bandage contact lens which will stay on the eye for about 5 days. Because the epithelium was removed, vision can be blurry for a few days and patient may have moderate discomfort for several days. Pain medication is generally recommended after PRK and patients may opt to take a few days off work. As with LASIK, you will use drops after this procedure, including lubricating drops to keep the eye moist which will help cut down on fluctuation in vision.
With PRK, patients may experience hazy vision for a few weeks after the procedure, but most patients are able to resume normal activities during this healing process. PRK is a great procedure for patients with corneas that are too thin to treat all of their correction with LASIK.
Custom procedures can be performed with LASIK or PRK. With a custom procedure, we are able to smooth out imperfections (high order aberrations) on the front surface of your eye which can not be corrected with contact lenses or glasses. This procedure may give you better vision than you have ever had. All of our patients will have a wave scan map done prior to their preoperative evaluation. Dr. Giltner will review these findings and determine if you will benefit from a custom procedure.
Dr. Giltner will take the time to discuss all of your options with you and answer all of your questions.
Call us at 303-839-7878 to schedule your free evaluation today.