You have been diagnosed with myopia or hyperopia with or without corneal curvature (astigmatism). The purpose of PRK/Trans-PRK/LASEK is to reduce dependence on corrective lenses.
PRK permanently changes the shape of the cornea. Treatment is performed under local anaesthesia (eye drops). In PRK, the top layer of the cornea, the epithelium, is removed mechanically. The cornea is then modelled with an excimer laser to compensate for the defective vision. After the treatment, the epithelium rebuilds at the edges and covers the superficial wound after a few days.
Even if the aim of the treatment is to improve vision to such an extent that there is no longer any dependence on corrective spectacle lenses or contact lenses, a certain result or the success of an operation can never be guaranteed. Follow-up treatments, surgical corrections, glasses or contact lenses may be necessary in order to have sufficient vision for certain activities.
PRK does not correct presbyopia, which requires reading glasses for people over 40 years of age.
Corneal healing has been studied for more than a century. Based on the several million laser vision correction treatments that have been performed, it has been proven that laser vision correction is both safe and effective. Although extremely rare, as in any medical procedure, there are potential side effects associated with excimer laser treatment.
Night glare is most apparent during the first several weeks of your recovery. It usually dissolves and returns to pre-procedure levels once your eyes have healed. WaveFront technology has repeatedly shown its ability to improve night vision. Some patients treated with the AMO® WaveScan System™ actually had better night vision after treatment than they experienced with their corrective lenses.
There is a slight risk of infection during the first days after your procedure. As part of your treatment, you will receive antibiotic drops to be applied during your recovery period. To minimize the risk of infection, we highly recommend that you avoid activities such as gardening or swimming for the first two weeks.
Some patients experience minimal overcorrection during the healing process. Again, this is part of your eye's healing. Your vision will stabilize within one to four weeks, depending on your previous level of myopia. Very seldom, the overcorrection may persist. After a three to four month period, an enhancement procedure, called Re-LASIK can be performed to remedy this problem. This will be done at no charge to you.
Vision generally remains stable. Some individuals may experience a degree of regression or undercorrection, although this is usually minimal. It can be corrected with an additional procedure, or you may opt for temporary wearing a pair of glasses, or contact lenses. The overwhelming majority of patients require only one procedure.
- Loss of vision: Although none of our patients suffer from vision loss, it cannot be ruled out with absolute certainty that PRK - e.g. due to a uncontrollable infection - will result in loss of vision. |
- Increased sensitivity to light and glare - possibly permanently. |
- Late complications: In individual cases it cannot be ruled out with absolute certainty that complications may occur in later years, e.g. due to weakening of the cornea (keratectasia) with significant visual deterioration. |
- Reduction of visual acuity: Even with a complication-free course and using the latest technologies, there are fundamental problems with the surgical correction of ametropia. For example, the flattening or splitting of the cornea necessary for the respective correction may lead to a deterioration of the optical imaging qualities of the cornea and thus to a reduction of the best corrected visual acuity compared to the condition before the operation. However, this is all the more true if there are delays in the healing process of scars form. |
These risks can be extremely rare, isolated or regular. This frequency information does not correspond to the information given in the package leaflets for medicines. They are only a general assessment and are only intended to serve as a weighting. The risk assessment for each patient is carried out individually in the consultation itself.
LOHR
Partensteiner Str. 6
97816 Lohr am Main
0 93 52/ 60 214 20
WÜRZBURG
Domstr. 1
97070 Würzburg
09 31/ 32 930 930
LOHR
Partensteiner Str. 6
97816 Lohr am Main
0 93 52/ 60 214 10
WÜRZBURG
Domstr. 1
97070 Würzburg
09 31/ 32 930 939
MARKTHEIDENFELD
Luitpoldstr. 31
97828 Marktheidenfeld
0 93 52/ 60 214 10
KARLSTADT
Gemündener Str. 15-17
97753 Karlstadt
0 93 52/ 60 214 10
HAMMELBURG
Berliner Str. 21a
97762 Hammelburg
0 97 32 - 43 31
LOHR
Partensteiner Str. 6
97816 Lohr am Main
0 93 52/ 60 214 12
WÜRZBURG
Domstr. 1
97070 Würzburg
09 31/ 32 930 939
MILTENBERG
Regional partial professional association
Hauptstr. 21
63897 Miltenberg
0 93 52 / 60 214 12
BUCHEN
Regional partial professional association
Dr.-Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 37
74722 Buchen
0 93 52/ 60 214 12
FURTHER LINKS:
www.augen-lohr.de
www.augenlaserklinik-lohr.de
E-MAIL
info@augen-lohr.de
Phone
Laser Clinic
0 93 52 / 60 214 20
Ophthalmic practice
0 93 52 / 60 214 10