How long for epithelial to heal after prk

How long will the correction last? Will I be able to drive immediately after PRK? When can I go back to work? Most patients can return to work four or five days after their PRK procedure. If I have dry eyes, will it affect my PRK surgery? Can I wear contact lenses after surgery, if needed? Could the surgery cause problems years from now?

Will having PRK prevent eye diseases? Should I have both eyes done at the same time? Should I wait for the next generation of PRK treatment? Implantable Contact Lens ». Follow Us On Instagram maloneyshamievision. Recent Blog Posts Dr. Maloney-Shamie Vision Institute.

Why Us? Meet Dr. Robert Maloney Meet Dr. Maloney Meet Dr. Schedule a Consultation. Send Message. At Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Army surgeons have moved toward surface ablation procedures for all refractive surgery candidates because of the rare but real potential for traumatic flap dislocations after LASIK. Trattler and Scott D. Preop prep. Careful preoperative care of the PRK patient is crucial in helping to speed epithelial healing after surgery.

Patients with blepharitis should be treated with lid hygiene, scrubs and antibiotics; those with dry eye should receive artificial tears, cyclosporine drops Restasis , ointments or punctal plugs, according to Neal A. Because dry eye is so common in older patients, Dr. Sher uses punctal plugs in most patients over age 45 undergoing PRK. Postop contact lens. Sher said. He examines his PRK patients immediately and again within half an hour after surgery to make sure the contact lens fits properly.

Sher noted that if the lens does not fit properly, or if excessive amounts of proteins or lipids build up, anoxia and corneal edema can delay healing. A contact lens with excessive protein or lipid buildup also should be replaced, sometimes daily.

Patients should be warned about exposure to smoke and cooking fumes, as they accumulate in the contact lens and can be toxic and cause healing delays. The choice of contact lens also can play a role in epithelial healing, as well as help to reduce eye irritation and pain. A silicone bandage contact lens usually achieves better results for epithelial healing and also reduces irritation better than a nonsilicone hydrogel lens, according to Dr.

Easy on the anesthetics. Another tip for speeding epithelial healing is to instruct the patient not to overuse anesthetic drops after surgery. Sher previously recommended topical proparacaine, 0. If a patient is having significant pain, and the contact lens is fitting well, he gives the patient 0.

Caution with the nonsteroidals, too. In one study by Dr. Trattler, epithelial problems were seen when a topical NSAID, nepafenac sodium, was placed on the corneal bed.

Emerging bacterial resistance to the previous-generation fluoroquinolones, ciprofloxacin Ciloxan, Alcon Laboratories and ofloxacin Ocuflox, Allergan , has been well documented. Prior-generation fluoroquinolones predominantly either inhibit topoisomerase II DNA Gyrase or topoisomerase IV and therefore only require one genetic mutation for bacteria to develop resistance.

Fourth-generation fluoroquinolones are equally effective against topoisomerase II and IV, which significantly expands their spectrum of action against gram-positive agents, atypical mycobacteria, and Nocardia. This duality of action of the fourth-generation fluoroquinolones requires that for bacteria to become resistant to these agents, the bacteria must undergo two genetic mutations, resulting in a significantly decreased chance of an organism developing resistance.

PRK is a much better option for patients who want to avoid the risk of flap complications, as well as those with thinner corneas for who LASIK is simply not appropriate. If you would like to find out more about PRK laser eye surgery, our experienced and friendly team would be happy to help. Please contact our offices today for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Contact Us. How do I know if my eyes are healing ok? Why choose PRK laser eye surgery over alternatives? Candidate For Laser Vision Correction. Lasik Vs Prk. Clients Love. Contact Laser Vision Delaware. With a full range of laser vision correction services, Laser Vision Delaware offers the experience and expertise you rely on when consulting with a specialist for vision correction.

Our Wilmington, Delaware office offer everything you need to maintain your eye health and optimize your vision. Contact Dr. Minkovitz at Laser Vision Delaware today for more information.