PRK Laser Eye Surgery Los Angeles & Santa Monica
PRK (or photorefractive keratectomy) is a laser eye surgery that is very similar to LASIK. Both procedures can improve your sight markedly. After PRK surgery, most people have no need for corrective eyewear such as glasses or contact lenses.
The condition of your eyes and astigmatism will determine if PRK is right for you. Dr. Christian will sit down with you for a one on one consultation and perform an in-depth examination using the latest and proven medical instruments. He will determine the best course of action to achieve the outcome you want. With his knowledge and experience, Dr. Christian has been providing the best PRK Laser Eye Surgery Los Angles and Santa Monica have to offer for many years to qualified individuals.
How the eye works
Light from outside enters your eye through its outer most layer, the cornea. The cornea focuses the light to the back of your eye, the retina, and this is the image you see.
When the cornea is misshaped or the cells on the cornea are too thick, its focusing power becomes obstructed, causing creates refractive errors. These errors manifest themselves as blurry vision. The three main refractive errors are:
- Myopia (nearsightedness)
- Hyperopia (farsightedness)
- Astigmatism (both near and far objects are blurry)
These conditions are very common today for people all over the world. Luckily PRK surgery can correct most cases of refractive errors. Dr. Christian has performed thousands of PRK surgeries successfully to thousands of satisfied patients.
PRK Patient Testimonial
“Never once did Dr. Christian pressure me, but rather he gave me the support and knowledge I needed to make the best decision for me...which was PRK - a bit of a longer recovery, but the results are more than worth the few days of pain/inconvenience. The offices are immaculate and each staff member makes your visit seamless and effective as they all are great at what they do. If you are considering eye surgery, you should absolutely 100% go see Dr. Christian...and even if you are not, well, maybe you should be...it really is that great and a total life-changer!!!” C.L.
PRK Procedure
The PRK procedure is simple but very precise. First, Dr. Christian will administer numbing drops to your eyes. This procedure is not a painful one but these will ensure you are as comfortable as possible. A device will be placed around your eye to hold the lids apart, eliminating the concern for blinking and disrupting the surgery. Then he will gently remove the surface cornea cells so the PRK laser and do its work unobstructed.
The laser is maneuvered into position, directly above your eye. It is computer driven and programmed based on the digital and highly accurate map of your eye Dr. Christian has made to plan out the surgery for your specific need. The PRK laser is used for less than one minute for most patients.
After the laser surgery is complete, Dr. Christian will place a temporary contact lens in each eye as a bandage while the underlying cornea heals. The whole process will be done in a matter of minutes.
Dr. Christian has been providing quality PRK laser eye surgery in Los Angeles and Santa Monica for years. His practiced hands will make this a quick and stress-free experience. The PRK procedure takes an average of 15 minutes per eye so it will take up only a small portion of your day.
PRK Recovery
You will be given medicated eye drops to assist in your recovery. Take them as directed to avoid any complications. The recovery time for PRK is gradual, with your sight improving as your cornea heals.
One to Three Days
One to three days after PRK, you can expect some mild discomfort in the eyes, light sensitivity and swollen eyes. Bear in mind most PRK patients experience little to none of these symptoms.
Four to Seven Days
Four days to one week after PRK, the discomfort should be over but you may experience slightly blurred or hazy vision. Otherwise you should be back to your normal lifestyle by this time.
One to Three Months
One to three months after PRK, the corneal cells should be healed and as they heal, you should experience clearer and clearer vision.
Three to Six Months
Three to six months after PRK, your new vision should be stable. In some cases, people have better vision than those who underwent LASIK surgery.
PRK vs LASIK
The difference between PRK and LASIK is the procedure itself. With LASIK, the cornea is cut to create a thin flap that is folded back while the laser surgery takes place. After the surgery, it is folded back over the eye where it heals in place.
In PRK, the outer membrane of the cornea is actually removed providing an area for the laser to work completely unobstructed. After the surgery the membrane grows anew. The recovery time is longer with PRK the results are more permanent. Sometimes with LASIK, the patient has to come back months and years later to reshape the cornea again with surgery.
Learn more about LASIKSchedule a consultation
If you are interested in PRK, your next step is a consultation with Dr. Christian. During this time, he will perform any necessary exam to determine the best course of action to restore your eyesight. In the interest of delivering the best PRK laser eye surgery Los Angeles & Santa Monica have available, he keeps abreast of any improvements in this technology and procedure. This means you benefit from a surgeon who has the expertise to back up his compassion for his patients. Please call our office today to schedule a consultation.
