How Long Does PRK Surgery Last?

Your vision is an important part for an improved quality of life. Refractive errors are easily corrected through advanced laser surgery. Refractive vision problems include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (abnormal curvature of the cornea).  Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) is an advanced laser surgery that helps correct your vision by reshaping your cornea (the transparent part of the eye covering the iris and the pupil that allows light to enter inside).  PRK was the first refractive surgery  that was given approval by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

The goal of PRK is to allow less dependency on glasses and contact lenses. It is a flapless procedure that takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes per eye. PRK is a good option if you have corneas that are too thin for LASIK or have a curvature that might make creating a flap unsafe. PRK surgery results are considered to provide great improvement in your eyesight.

Let’s explore how long you can enjoy the benefits of this revolutionary laser vision correction surgery.

What is Photorefractive Keratectomy?

Photorefractive Keratectomy, popularly known as PRK, is a refractive surgery that uses a laser to correct your vision. Refractive errors occur when your eyes do not refract (bend) light properly. Your eye surgeon uses a special brush or alcohol solution to remove the outer layer of the cornea (epithelium). Then an excimer laser is focused to reshape your cornea. This improves your vision by correcting the path of light so that it is focused on the retina (light-sensitive layers of nerve tissue at the back of the eye that receives and sends images to the brain through the optic nerve).. PRK surgery is an outpatient procedure which takesess than 30 minutes less than 30 minutes for both the eyes. Recovery is usually long which takes around 4 to 6 weeks. PRK reduces your dependency on eyeglasses and contact lenses. It is a good choice for you if you have dry eyes or thin corneas, since other laser surgeries are not recommended for such conditions.

How Long Does PRK Surgery Last?

PRK is a trending refractive surgery which is also useful if you have thin corneas.  The results last a very long time. It provides a permanent solution to the refractive errors present.  Due to the innovation in technology over the years, eye surgeons can offer advanced treatment methods to improve your vision. Once the vision has stabilized 2 to 3 months post surgery, it is likely in most cases that your vision will remain stable. However, there could be small visual changes as the eye changes with age. Often this is seen over the age of 50. The most common age-related vision regression seen is cataract. This may affect your vision correction done during PRK surgery. Also, the PRK outcomes differ in each person since everyone has a different rate of healing. 

Can You Have PRK Surgery Twice?

PRK enhancement procedure can be performed multiple times as long as the cornea remains healthy after healing. There should be adequate corneal thickness left for repeated enhancement surgeries. These are similar to the initial procedure. It involves removing the outer layer of cornea (epithelium) and reshaping the cornea with an excimer laser.

Reasons that Affect Your PRK Results in the Long Run

You may experience a change in your vision after PRK a few months or years later. This may not always be due to side effects of the surgery. There could be some other underlying causes affecting your eye and vision. 

• Cataract

• • • It is a natural aging process that causes clouding of your natural lens.
    • PRK reshapes the cornea and does not involve the lens. Cataract if present pre-operatively, it will still be present after PRK surgery. Cataracts may also affect young individuals.
    •  Hence vision problems occur due to cataract and not a side effect or after effect of the surgery. 

• Residual refractive error

• • • Undercorrection or overcorrection post PRK surgery can lead to vision problems.
    • This leaves residual power either myopic or hyperopic.

• Presbyopia

• • • It is the gradual loss of your eye’s ability to focus on nearby objects.
    • It happens when the crystalline lens inside your eye becomes less flexible with age.
    • This may require older individuals to use reading glasses. 

• Diabetes (high blood sugar levels)

• • • Fluctuations in your blood sugar levels can adversely affect your vision.
    • Uncontrolled diabetes can damage your cornea and retina which causes vision problems irrespective of PRK surgery.

• Keratoconus spectrum

• • • This is an abnormal outward bulging of the cornea which turns into a cone shape.
    • This condition may worsen astigmatism.
    • Keratokonus can not be corrected by enhancement procedures, hence requires a corneal transplant procedure.

• Macular degeneration

• • It is a condition that causes deterioration of the macula (region of your retina that is responsible for central vision).
  • Usually affects if you are over 60 years of age.

Tips to Improve the Outcome of Your PRK Surgery

There are certain precautions that you can take to prolong the results of PRK surgery.

• Proper healing and recovery post surgery

• • • Healing post surgery is an important aspect of PRK procedure. 
    • You can determine the success of your surgery by following the post-op instructions given by your eye surgeon.
    • Failing to follow the instructions can lead to possible post-op complications which may affect your vision, and alter the surgery outcome.

• Regular follow-up with your surgeon

• • • This is important because any age related changes can be addressed early before it affects your vision post PRK surgery.
    • Your surgeon will examine your cornea and retina to evaluate the overall health of your eyes.

• Preventing trauma to the eyes

• • • Trauma to your eyes can damage the surrounding structures like retina, and cornea, which can affect your vision.

• Keep a check on your medical conditions, especially diabetes 

• • Having your diabetes and other medical conditions (like high blood pressure) under control can greatly impact your surgery outcome.
  • These debilitating diseases can damage your cornea and retina in the long run and cause vision problems.

Takeaway

PRK is an advanced refractive surgery to correct your vision affected by refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism). The results are permanent and last for several years. PRK significantly improves the vision having an overall success rate of 95%. However, sometimes your vision may get affected due to several factors and not always due to the side effects post surgery. This can be easily managed through enhancement surgery and other vision correction procedures.

If you would like to learn more about PRK vision correction and understand which treatment suits you best to free you from glasses, and contact lenses, consult our team of ophthalmologists at Medfin. We are well equipped with advanced laser technology to provide you with the best possible and long-lasting visual outcome.

Disclaimer: The content on this site is the copyright of Medfin and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered as a substitute for medical and surgical expertise. Results from any treatments or surgeries are subjective to an individual patient and the type of procedure/ surgery performed. Please seek professional help regarding any medical concerns. Medfin will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.