If you have thick corneas, LASIK is the best option while those with thin corneas should opt for PRK. When replacing the eye's natural lens, IOL implants and RLEs are better alternatives to LASIK and the most ideal as they offer a permanent and long-lasting solution versus other corrective procedures.
Although Lasik is a form of laser eye surgery that has evolved from PRK, many experts, including our own renowned ophthalmologist, Dr. Jeffrey Minkovitz, strongly advocate PRK as the superior choice. The key difference between the two types of laser eye surgery lies in the access to the cornea.
The preferable procedure is PRK since it does not leave a flap on your cornea. Thus, it is much safer and more effective than LASIK in the long run. PRK may take longer to heal than LASIK, but the results are the same. This is true when a competent surgeon does the procedure.
PRK is preferred over LASIK in the presence of certain corneal findings. For example, if your cornea is too thin, or if there is evidence of forme fruste keratoconus. PRK is sometimes chosen if there is moderate to severe dry eye as there is often less postoperative dry eye with PRK.
Disadvantages of PRK
Infection, scarring, cloudiness of the cornea, and a “halo effect” that appears around lights. Over or under correction of your vision. In this case, glasses, contacts, or additional surgery can remedy the problem. Although extremely rare, it's possible for vision to worsen after PRK.
If you have advanced glaucoma, an advanced cataract, a corneal disease, or certain other conditions, you may not qualify for PRK. In addition, you should not be pregnant or nursing. If you are pregnant or nursing, it is best to wait until after you have completed breastfeeding to schedule any laser eye surgery.
It is important to know that if you have dry eyes, LASIK surgery may make the condition worse. Large pupils. If your pupils are large, especially in dim light, LASIK may not be appropriate. Surgery may result in debilitating symptoms such as glare, halos, starbursts and ghost images.
Generally speaking, most LASIK eye surgeons agree on 25-40 as the ideal age range for LASIK eye surgery candidacy for a few reasons. By the age of 25, eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions have most likely stabilized. A stable prescription is one of the hallmarks of a good LASIK candidate.
Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure. You actively participate in contact sports.
Although the accuracy of refractive surgical procedures is increasing, it is not uncommon to consider retreatment after PRK when there is a residual refractive error such as over/under correction, regression, aberrations and decentration, that interfere with the patient's quality of life.
While aging does affect the eye and the functioning of the eye, there is no absolute upper age limit for LASIK or PRK laser vision correction.It is, however, important to factor in how aging is affecting the rest of the eye when making a decision about having LASIK or PRK.
PRK can accurately correct nearsightedness. Approximately 90% of PRK patients have 20/20 vision without glasses or contact lenses one year after the surgery. Over 95% have 20/40 or better (without glasses or contacts).
If your nearsightedness or farsightedness continue to progress after laser eye surgery, your vision will still be better than it would have been without surgery. We can perform a LASIK enhancement if vision changes are substantial or bother you.
Why is the Czech Republic the best country for eye surgery? The Czech Republic is one of the world leaders in eye surgery. There are several reasons for that such as high standards, lower prices but also long history with eye ...
Yes, it is possible to get LASIK twice. However, it is extremely uncommon to need the surgery twice, and the majority of individuals who undergo LASIK enjoy lasting improved vision after just one procedure.
The cost of consultation fees across Australia range and can be as much as $250 each. At personalEYES, your initial LASIK assessment is completely FREE. The actual cost of laser eye surgery ranges from $2,525 to $6,200 per eye in Australia, depending on the clinic and the type of procedure.
Of course, LASIK eligibility depends on quite a few factors, several of which are unique from person to person. But the answer is generally yes – LASIK is worth it after 40. LASIK is safe and effective for patients older than 40 and produces the long-term value that this refractive surgery is known for.
While there is currently no age limit for older adults wanting LASIK surgery, there are some vision conditions affecting adults age 40 and above that can't be treated with this surgery. These conditions are: Presbyopia or blurry near vision typically occurring around age 40. Cataracts or glaucoma.
3% of patients have serious problems after LASIK, such as dry eyes or infection. 90% of LASIK patients experience 20/20 vision after surgery. Furthermore, 99% of patients achieve 20/40 vision. Only 3% of patients regret getting LASIK.
Eye herpes. Glaucoma. Blindness in one eye. Partial sightedness in one eye.
Published medical studies have shown a persistent decrease in corneal cells (keratocytes) after LASIK. Doctors speculate that this loss might lead to long-term problems. Corneal nerves responsible for tear production are severed and destroyed during LASIK.
Experiencing total blindness after PRK (which is classified as having zero light perception) is extremely rare. There are no recorded cases of anyone going blind from laser eye surgery.
How Long Does PRK Last? PRK is considered to be permanent. However, it cannot prevent eyes from aging, nor the optical conditions that can develop as a result. If you have PRK surgery at 40 years of age or older, you can expect these changes to occur.
What Is PRK's Success Rate? PRK laser eye correction boasts a high success rate. According to the FDA, the average success stands at roughly 95%.