How long does PRK surgery last?
Before you can undergo any sort of laser vision correction procedure, your provider will talk you through every aspect of the process, answering any questions that you have. One of the most common questions that patients ask us is how long their PRK surgery lasts – both in terms of the procedure itself and their results. Here’s what you need to know.
How long does PRK surgery last?
PRK surgery, which is the original form of laser vision correction and is still extremely popular today thanks to the many benefits it offers over later techniques, is a simple and straightforward procedure. You’ll need to allow a little time to prepare for your treatment, but the actual surgery takes between 5 and 10 minutes per eye. Once the procedure is complete, you’ll be asked to wait for a short while so your surgeon can examine your eyes, and then you’ll be allowed to go home with specific instructions on what you should do to help your eyes heal.
The outcome of PRK surgery
After your PRK surgery, it can take a number of weeks for your vision to stabilize. Studies estimate that approximately 75% of patients achieve 20/20 vision or better, and more than 95% achieve at least 20/40 vision. However, while the effects of PRK surgery are usually permanent, our eyesight always has the potential to be affected by both external and internal influences. This means that patients should be prepared for the fact that there is a chance that their vision may be affected in the future and that they may need additional laser vision correction, or visual aids, to support them.
The aging process and PRK
Age alone isn’t a barrier to getting laser vision correction, and more specifically, PRK surgery. And initially, all patients achieve similar outcomes irrespective of what age they are when they undergo their PRK procedure. However, patients who opt for the procedure and who are over the age of 40 may find that their eyesight continues to change in the future. This is a result of the aging process and typically affects everyone, regardless of their gender or how clear their vision was when they were younger. Some of the issues that people may experience as they get older include:
Presbyopia. As we get older, the lens of our eye naturally becomes more rigid, and this makes it less capable of focusing properly on nearby objects. This condition is called presbyopia and starts to develop during our 40s and 50s. PRK surgery can’t prevent presbyopia, so if you experience the condition, you will still need to wear glasses or contact lenses to give you clear, close-up vision.
Cataracts. Laser eye surgery techniques like PRK do not prevent or slow the development of cataracts. Therefore, if you go on to develop cataracts in the future – a condition characterized by the clouding of the natural lens of the eye – you may need subsequent cataract surgery to restore your vision.
Glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when there is increased pressure within the eye that causes damage to the optic nerve. Without treatment, it leads to irreversible blindness. Laser vision procedures such as PRK thin the cornea and this leads to lower pressure readings. Your eye doctor should be made aware of this when monitoring the pressure inside your eyes to check for the presence of glaucoma. Glaucoma can affect your vision, but with prompt treatment, you should be able to sustain the results of your PRK surgery.
For more information about PRK surgery, or to schedule a consultation, don’t hesitate to speak to our expert team.
