Are you having some issues with your eyesight? Have you been advised to consider PRK eye surgery in Las Vegas? Are you just researching the best options? Whatever your case may be, let’s help you understand what the procedure is all about in this article.
What is PRK eye surgery?
This is a form of eye surgery that involves the use of laser to correct refractive errors in a patient’s eye by adjusting or reshaping the clear part on the front of the eye known as the cornea. These refractive errors include astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness.
The details of the procedure may differ slightly depending on whether a patient chooses to go with the standard procedure or a more custom option. That said; when done successfully, it helps the patient see better as it improves the ability to focus which is at the root of a number of eye problems.
To end this part of our answer for those who don’t know already, PRK stands for photorefractive keratectomy.
Ready For PRK Surgery?
If you are getting ready for this type of eye surgery, you need to do your due diligence. This includes knowing what other options are open to you (like LASIK eye surgery) and if PRK is the best for you. You might also want to check PRK vs Lasik cost to you.
Of course, common sense dictates that you do this with a trusted eye doctor who’ll help you make the assessment and advise accordingly. It helps, too, if you can get a second opinion from a trusted medical practitioner before taking the plunge.
Let’s assume you’ve done all that and now decide it’s time to go for it. If that’s you, then you need to do the following…
Before The Surgery
Before you go for the eye surgery, there are things that your doctor will have to do and advise you to do. They include the following…
You’ll have to go for an eye assessment along with a thorough test of your vision. Your doctor will also determine the level of error that exists in each of your eyes. They will also map your cornea’s shape and take the measurement of the eye to be worked on (or both eyes if you are having the surgery on both).
This step is necessary as it will provide your doctor with the data to feed to the laser equipment.
While your doctor is doing the assessment, it’s a smart thing to find out what the side effects of this procedure are. Are there things you should be aware of? Are there things to prepare for after the surgery? You can get details on this here: https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/lasik/possible-side-effects-of-prk-surgery
Getting the right information will prevent shock or anxiety days after the surgery as you’d already be prepared for some of the things you’d experience.
Another thing that’s important for you to do is make a FULL disclosure of all medications you are on, whether they are prescribed by a doctor or those over-the-counter bunch you got yourself. They will be assessed and you may be advised to stop taking some or all of them. Depending on how a drug might affect you during surgery, you might be advised to desist from using them for a number of days before the procedure.
If you use contact lenses, you are advised to stop using them for NOT less than a week before your surgery. For certain types, you may be advised to stop using them for at least 21 days or so.
Your doctor will also give you general advice on how to take care of your eyes in preparation for the procedure. You may be given special eye drops to use in preparation and you’ll be told to wash the area around your eyes in a certain way. You’ll also be given other specific advice on how to prepare. Make sure you stick to each one of them.
As part of your preparation, you need to make solid arrangements for someone to drive you to and from the clinic. For one, you won’t be in any shape to drive yourself – That’s common sense, right?
Some will advise you to take something so you don’t get hungry if you have to wait for a few hours before your surgery. But whatever you do, make sure you check with your eye doctor first.
To end this section on preparation, make sure you wear something that’s comfortable for you. But at the same time, make sure it’s something that won’t disturb the doctor while they are working on you.
Should this even be mentioned? Well, let’s just put it there for those who might NOT get it…
Don’t wear make up on this special day. Yes, we know you want to look your best but, please, keep your face free of anything foreign apart from any medications your doctor may advise you to use.
And, if for any reason, you feel down and out, don’t forget that this isn’t an earth-changing event. You can always reschedule to another more convenient time – All you have to do is just call your doctor ahead of time.
After Your Surgery
You might have noticed that no mention was made of the surgery itself. It’s with good reason: Your doctor knows a lot more than us and would take care of that part of the procedure. So let’s concern ourselves with the other things you’d have to do when they are NOT there like after the procedure. You can click here for more information on this.
It’s important that you don’t fix other appointments for that day. You’ll need to have adequate rest. As much as possible, your eyes should NOT be put under any form of stress. This means that you’d be best lying down with your eyes shut.
If you feel serious pain or discomfort a few days after your surgery, it’s best to call your doctor and inform them about it. There’s nothing brave about enduring pain, especially when it has to do with your eyes.
It’s better to be concerned, have your doctor check it and tell you it’s nothing to worry about than to brave it and find out that something was really wrong.
Finally and MOST importantly; stick with your doctors recommendations for recuperation. This might include wearing sunglasses and staying indoors for a certain length of time among other things.
Conclusion
PRK eye surgery in Las Vegas shouldn’t fill you with anxiety if you take the necessary steps to prepare well for it. And we believe that good preparation will increase the success of the procedure manifold. Your eyes are your windows to the world and there’s no level of preparation that should be considered too much for them.