While medication can be instrumental in reducing the impact of eye diseases and complications, sometimes eye surgery becomes an option that should be considered. In particular, laser eye surgery has become the most innovative type of eye surgery. Horizon Eye Care can help you to determine if such a procedure is ideal for you.

The Powerful Surgery with A Long Name

In October of 1995, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially approved the excimer laser for correcting nearsightedness that was minor to fair. At that time, only eye care professionals who were trained in the adjustment and operating of the laser, and in laser refractive procedures, could use the laser. The federal government has now approved the excimer laser for photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Horizon Eye Care can provide guidance about whether either of these operations is a feasible option for you.

PRK’s Precision

PRK, an outpatient procedure, typically begins with the inserting of eye drops for local anesthesia. This refractive surgery variety tenderly reforms the cornea by extracting tiny amounts of issue from the outside surface. A cool, ultraviolet ray of light, which a computer operates, is used for this procedure. The light ray is so exact that it can cut nicks in one human hair fibre, without fracturing it. Furthermore, in 12 billionths of a second, each pulsation can remove a bit of tissues measuring 39 millionths of an inch! This operation that can be completed within a few minutes, and after one to three days, patients of Horizon Eye Care can return to their everyday schedules.

Prior to the procedure’s start, an eye care specialist measures the patient’s eye, to discover how severe his visual problem is. Then a diagram of the eye’s surface is created. Based on this data, the necessary change in the cornea is determined, and then input into the laser’s computer. The eye specialists at Horizon Eye Care can further explain this procedure.

Picture Perfect (Or Almost)

How effective is PRK? According to the FDA, formal studies have revealed that only about five percent of patients who underwent PRK, required eyeglasses for distance viewing. Furthermore, a maximum of 15 percent of such patients only periodically required the eyeglasses for activities such as driving a vehicle. After the PRK procedure, numerous patients experienced a slightly blurry cornea. However, this result was an aspect of the standard process of recovery. It could be viewed only by using a microscope, and seemed to have a minimal or no effect on the patient’s concluding vision. Horizon Eye Care can further explain the temporary effects on vision associated with PRK.

While PRK cannot always eliminate the need for eyeglasses, it is certainly able to reduce the need for corrective eyewear. Let the specialists at Horizon Eye Care help you determine if PRK can make your future brighter and clearer!