Getting PRK instead of LASIK. Anyone else done this?

[Valerie in Chicago]

I can't do LASIK due to my corneas being too thin. (who knew?) So I'm signed up to do PRK in May. Anyone else done this specific procedure? Would love any feedback on recovery times, etc. TIA!

[mbeaser]

I'll be able to tell you after Friday of next week. I wouldn't get LASIK if they paid me to. I have to kind of luck that would cause the flap to fail and I would be blind forever. My doc said I have fantastic corneas and tearing, but he almost always recommends PRK over LASIK. I'm not getting straight PRK, though. He (sorta) pioneered an all laser PRK (okay, its been around in Canada for a while, but he's the only one in the states doing it). It is called Supralase. They told me that I'll be out of commission for 2 days, but I should be okay to drive myself to work on that Monday. I've got 20/400 vision (-5.25 left, -4.75 right), so I'm REALLY looking forward to it. It is my "getting out of the Navy in 5 weeks and moving too far away to get it from this doctor" present for myself ;)

Missy
fka Missy in VA

[Valerie in Chicago]

Seriously, I'd love to hear how you do. I'm blind too, -6.5 in both eyes. I asked if I was 20/200 or what. The doc said, "you're not even on the chart! you can barely make out the E at the top!" So it's my "i've been blind since 10yo" gift.

Best of luck!

[mbeaser]

Thought I'd give an update here, 4 weeks post surgery for Supralase (all laser PRK). I'm seeing very well. At my follow up appointment on Mar 3 (surgery was Feb 29) I was seeing 20/20 over all (20/20 left, 20/25 right). My contact prescription had been -5.25 left and -4.75 right (20/400 both eyes) before surgery. They use bandage contacts right after the surgery (took them out when I went to bed on the 3rd), so my vision got a little worse on the 4th and 5th, but my only real problem now is that I get eye fatigue pretty easily when working on the computer for a while. I do have some glare and ghosting issues at dawn/dusk and in the dark, but they aren't much worse than what I had pre-surgery. I can certainly see well enough to drive at night, it is more of an annoyance than anything. The drops are kind of annoying, as well. The first few days it is tons of drops (including an antibiotic for 2 weeks and numbing drops for the first day), now I just do a steroid eye drop 4 times a day, and rewetting drops 4 times a day (plus as needed-I use them probably 8-10 times a day and I always had great eye moisture). I'll use the rewetting drops as often as needed after my follow up Monday, but I'll be on the steroid for 3 more months. The steroid drops that my doc uses are incredibly expensive (a 5ml bottle is $69), I'm very happy I don't have a copay. So far the bottle has lasted 9 days, I think it'll probably last 3 weeks, but every month I lower the dosage by 1 drop per day, so I'll probably need 3-4 bottles total. The rewetting drops are $15 for the generic Walgreens kind and I get a box about every other week.

I tell every one that asks that the surgery was the 4th best thing I've ever done (I've got 3 kiddos). I know that the recovery from LASIK is much faster than PRK recovery, but if anyone would be likely to have a LASIK flap failure, it would be me (I've somehow managed to painlessly stretch the tendon that attaches the elevator muscle on left eyelid TWICE-the surgeon that did the repair is THE Navy eyelid repair surgeon for the entire country and he said I'm the only person he's done that surgery on under the age of 60).
Missy

[Valerie in Chicago]

thank you so much for the follow-up! over the next few months, will you continue to keep me posted? either here or private messages? my prk is scheduled for may, so i'll continue to be interested in how things develop.

congratulations on the much-improved vision! i'm sure that it's changed your life in many ways!

[dan03141]

I had PRK in London UK about 2 months ago. The procedure I had is an all laser version of PRK. This is known by several names; Supralase, No Touch, All laser ASA. It's medical name is Transepithelial PRK or T-PRK. It involves removing the epithelium surface tissue using an excimer laser instead of a brush or a blade. There is a fair amount of evidence now that this version has better healing characteristics than standard PRK and contrary to popular belief is no more painful than the LASEK surface procedure. I had good driving standard vision by 1.5 weeks post op and by 1 month I had 20/20. I still get occassional starbursts at night but this is probably due to me having large pupils. My eyes are still a bit dry but this has mostly recovered and I'm confident they will recover after another month. This is one of the big advantages of PRK over LASIK, that the nerve fibers damaged during surgery fully regenerate and so dry eye should not be a problem. For me the biggest advantage is the peace of mind you get from having post surgery eyes which are essentially in their natural condition; no flap!

[Valerie in Chicago]

Thank you, thank you! I'm always up for hearing about people's experiences with PRK. I spoke with someone who has had this procedure with the doctor that I'm using, and she was very pleased. She does not need any correction now and had a stronger prescription than me when she had it done.

I'll have to check on the name of the specific PRK procedure that I'm having. I didn't realize there were so many. More research to do!

Again, thanks for the info. I VERY much appreciate it!