Post: #1

PRK is the original LASIK, before LASIK was conceived.

Quote:Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy (or Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis[1]) (LASEK) are laser eye surgery procedures intended to correct a person's vision, reducing dependency on glasses or contact lenses.

LASEK and PRK permanently change the shape of the anterior central cornea using an excimer laser to ablate (remove by vaporization) a small amount of tissue from the corneal stroma at the front of the eye, just under the corneal epithelium. The outer layer of the cornea is removed prior to the ablation.

That bolded bit? That's why it took me five years to find the balls to do it, and almost six months after I broke my decent glasses and had to make do with my shitty pair which never got me laid. Here's one account of the pain:

Quote:Around 3 AM, I awoke to excruciating pain; it felt like a tiny troll stabbing my right eye with one of those margarita swords. The left eye decided to join in with some general burning.

Other accounts I'd read said things like "All I could do was sit in my room with the lights off, tears streaming down my face from the pain, with any tiny bit of light pricking me like a needle in the retina and starting the pain cycle afresh" and so on. Plus of course the fear of everything not going right and ending up blind.

Well, today is my 5th day after the procedure. I still can't see so well, but I can see well enough to drive -- slowly -- if I need to. My left eye is worse, it basically is completely blurred but my right eye is compensating like a champ. I keep wanting to pick up my glasses and put them on, but it doesn't help the blurriness at all (which I'm glad for)

By far the worst days for me were the hours immediately following the surgery and the 2nd and 3rd days. I was given nothing stronger than an ibuprofen (Advil) and eye drops. Plus one of the drops was an antibiotic, which meant no alcohol.

It was a really interesting experience, because you know that not only is the recovery time really long (8-12 weeks to full recovery) but that its just a better surgery for snyone who can afford the pain and time required to heal. I was recommended against LASIK because my eyes are on the dry side, which is also the reason I hated contacts.

Benefits of PRK:

1. No flap to dlslodge. I want to lead an ative lifestyle, and after shelling out for the operation, the last thing I want to do is baby my eyes for the rest of my life.
2. No dry eyes.
3. The eye grows back as it was, structurally intact. This appeals to me for some reason.
4. You can still wear contacts. I know that colored contacts are gay, but I've always wanted to try out a pair to see what kind of reactions I get. Plus the Nike sports contact lenses are awesome.

I got my surgery done in the third world (India) because I had to be here anyway, and it cost me about $600 all in. A good pair of glasses (not Prada or whatever) would cost me about $100, for reference.

Ask away!

Post: #2

Awesome!

What was it like during the surgery? I tried to go in to get this done, but I couldnt qualify because my eyes kept shutting involuntarily whenever they got any of their laser or instruments needed. Did you have to keep your eyes open in the surgery?

Post: #3

May I ask where you got the surgery done? In Germany?

Post: #4

Yes, I had to keep my eyes open and focused on the little green light the entire time!

They started with putting a shield all over my face kind of like the ones dentists use, and it was tacky near the eye to be operated upon to hold it in place. Then, they ask you open your eyes and hold still, and they put in analgesic eye drops. Then they irrrigate the eye with water (very, very cold water) and put in a circle like thing to hold the eye open. It doesn't feel dry at all, I felt that I could still blink but obviously couldn't.

Then they scrape the ever loving fuck out of your eye with medieval torture implements. Like everywhere, as if they're scooping up gelato. I could see my cornea on his blade at one point. Good thing I'm not squeamish.

The hardest part is keeping the eye focused as the lights increase in brightness to about the level of HID car headlights (no kidding) when the laser descends on your face. You see some purple flashes and then its done. Then they irrigate the eye with cold water again. That motherfucker is like an ice cream headache but ten times worse.

Post: #5

(04-24-2013 07:02 AM)vandrare Wrote:  May I ask where you got the surgery done? In Germany?

Last paragraph

Bangalore, India, and it cost me about US$600 or €450.

Post: #6

From the people that I know who have gotten PPK, I don't know any that are truly happy with it. Granted my sample size is small, but I remember them complaining about blurry vision months after the procedure.

Post: #7

Why did you go with PPK? I thought most people would go for the most up to date and modern procedure (ie LASIK)?

Was it because of the cost?

Post: #8

The blurry vision almost always clears up in about 3-5 months, which is the recovery period and the most unfortunate part of PRK. Aside from that, LASIK has horror stories too, plus I couldn't imagine having eyes drier than what I already have.

The cost for the two was about the same. It wasn't a factor in my decision.

Today, the 6th day after the surgery, I drove to work. From what I hear, my recovery will slow down at this point until it suddenly picks up again once I'm off the steroid eye drops.

EDIT: The most up-to-date procedure is actually IOL -- Intra-Ocular Lens. They essentially implant a permanent removeable contact lens inside your eye, behind the iris. However, it is very expensive and new, and it has its own problems. From what I heard it also can't cure astigmatism which was a deal breaker for me.