PRK
WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR PRK?
Most people who are candidates for LASIK are also candidates for PRK. The PRK procedure is an especially good fit for people with mild to moderate nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism. Individuals with thin corneas may be better candidates for PRK than for LASIK. As with any laser surgery, your corneas should be healthy and your vision should be stable for at least a year prior to the procedure. Also, except in certain situations, you need to be at least eighteen years of age to undergo this procedure.
Who Is Not a Candidate for PRK?
If you have herpes simplex of the eye, you cannot undergo the procedure during an active outbreak. Some doctors will do PRK if you go six months without a recurrence of herpes. In this case, you will need prophylactic medications before and after the procedure to minimize the risk of a recurrence while the eye heals.
In general, pregnant women should avoid vision correction procedures, including PRK, because pregnancy sometimes causes instability in one's prescription during the third trimester. On the other hand, if you are early in your pregnancy and your vision hasn't changed, it may be possible to do PRK in special cases.
You may be surprised to learn that if you suffer from major medical conditions-an autoimmune disease, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, or diabetes for example-you are not automatically disqualified for PRK surgery. Talk with your surgeon about specific steps you can take to make PRK as safe as possible for you.
Surgeon Qualifications
As with LASIK surgery, you'll want to find an ophthalmologist who is board certified. Surgeons who have completed at least 200 PRK procedures should be competent with the procedure.
Preparing For PRK
