10 easy PRK tips

Ten easy tips to help you make the best choice for your PRK or laser vision correction:

PRK Tip #1. Demand the most up-to-date technology.

  • CustomVue (Wavefront-Guided) PRK
  • We recommend the AMO Star S4 or Allegretto PRK machines
  • Iris-Registration
  • Pupil Tracking

PRK Tip #2. Choose the right PRK surgeon.

  • Caring doctor not a sales-person
  • Spends time and patiently answers all your questions
  • Educated at a top-notch universities and ophthalmology programs
  • Experienced PRK and ophthalmic surgeon
  • Obtains excellent results.
  • Meticulous and does not defer too much to staff.

PRK Tip #3. Avoid “LASIK/PRK-mills”.

  • Little individual attention to each patient and each eye
  • Too much delegation of responsibility to non-medical staff
  • Advertisement of very cheap prices often at the expense of quality
  • Too much sales-pressure applied
  • Often bring in surgeons that will leave town the next day and thus be unavailable to personally address any potential issues after surgery.

PRK Tip #4. Choose the correct financing option.

  • Cash if feasible
  • Should be able to get interest-free financing
  • Consider using pre-tax flex spending account money
  • Your vison-plan may help

PRK Tip #5. Do your homework about the PRK procedure.

  • Use various internet resources including this website
  • Look at the 101 PRK FAQ on this website
  • Understand all benefits as well as potential risks of PRK
  • Be sure to ask all your questions from your surgeon prior to scheduling surgery

PRK Tip #6. Do not fall victim to advertisements.

  • Read between the lines, very low prices usually mean low quality
  • Be careful of extra costs adding on to advertised price
  • Make sure you know exactly what technology you are getting
  • Remember, someone has to pay for large advertising budgets of “LASIK/PRK-mills”

PRK Tip #7. Make sure your eye prescription has been stable.

  • If you are “sold” PRK when your prescription has not been stable, your correction likely will not last too long and you will soon see blurry again.
  • It is good to have a copy of your last few glasses prescription or eye-doctor notes over the last 2 years prior to your PRK.
  • Be careful of any doctor who recommends PRK without enquiring about your past glasses prescriptions.

PRK Tip #8. Plan on being in town for at least two weeks after your PRK surgery.

  • Problems with PRK are rare, but just in case, plan on being in town for at least a week.
  • Make sure your surgeon will be around to address any potential issues.

PRK Tip #9. If you have dry eyes, make sure they are optimally treated prior to considering PRK.

  • Do your eyes burn or tear-up when there is a breeze?
  • Talk to your doctor about tear-plugs.
  • Talk to your doctor about restasis eye-drops.
  • Dry eyes may make you not a good candidate for laser vision correction.

PRK Tip #10. Consider LASIK as well.

  • The advantage of LASIK is faster healing time and visual recovery compared to the PRK.

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