In most cases, LASIK eye surgery is considered to be the best option when a person is suffering from vision problems like myopia (near-sightedness). However, in recent times, we have seen a resurgence of ASLA/PRK surgery for vision issues, especially when cornea thickness is not ideal for LASIK procedures. For the uninitiated, ASLA (Advanced Surface Laser) is similar to PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) surgery. Therefore, the terms are often used interchangeably, and hence, the surgery that takes place without creating a LASIK flap (for patients with thin cornea) is referred to as ASLA/PRK.
Choosing Between ASLA/PRK and LASIK
Contrary to common belief, ASLA/PRK is in no way inferior to LASIK when it comes to positive surgery outcomes. However, it can be slightly more uncomfortable and the vision recovery might take a bit longer. However, because ASLA/PRK is the only safe option for people with thin cornea, it is considered a worthwhile option in the eye surgery domain.
Moreover, a patient undergoing ASLA/PRK does not have a corneal flap to worry about, which makes the surgery safer in many aspects. Due to the absence of a flap, there is no risk of epithelial ingrowth, striae, or dislodgement of the flap. Hence, ASLA/PRK is a wonderful option that you should consider while discussing vision correction strategy with your eye surgeon.
Vision Problems and Causes that Require a Patient to Undergo ASLA/PRK Eye Surgery
Refractive errors can be debilitating and cause a person to suffer from any of the three problems mentioned below:
- Myopia (near-sightedness)
- Hyperopia (farsightedness)
- Astigmatism (the shape of your eye causes blurry vision)
When a person has a corneal problem, it causes the rays of light passing through eyes to not fall correctly (focused) on the retina. This leads to all the aforementioned vision issues.
In cases where a patient has thick enough cornea (as diagnosed by the doctor), it is possible to undergo LASIK. However, when the thickness is not appropriate for LASIK, then ASLA/PRK becomes the automatic choice.
But before undergoing ASLA/PRK surgery, it is essential for the patient to have:
- Healthy corneas
- Good general eye health
- Realistic expectations about the PRK procedure. A good surgeon generally discusses with you what to expect and not expect, so if you are fine with the outcomes, only then you should choose this surgery.
- Attained the Age of 18 years old
- An eye prescription that hasn’t changed in the previous year
It is worth noting that the following individuals are not eligible to undergo this surgery
- People with advanced glaucoma.
- Women who are pregnant.
- Women who are breastfeeding.
- People with cataracts eye infections dry eye syndrome or blepharitis
- People who have scars on their eyes.
- People who have a refractive error that keeps on changing.
- People with cornea injuries or diseases.
- People who have a disease that affects healing, for instance, an allergy or uncontrolled diabetes
ASLA/PRK Treatment to Fix Corneal Issues
ASLA/PRK treatment takes place in six steps:
- Firstly, the eyes are numbed using eye drops.
- A holder is put in your eye to prevent you from blinking.
- Your epithelium (the outer layer of the cornea) is removed using a brush, blade, laser, or an alcohol solution.
- Then ophthalmologist uses a laser to reshape your cornea.
- After that, the surgeon gives you nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops, antibiotic drops, and steroid drops.
- Lastly, a clear contact lens is usually placed at the end of surgery. It reduces the irritation during the healing process by working like a bandage.
Although the procedure takes place in these 6 steps, it is not considerably long. In most cases, the surgery is complete within 10-15 minutes.
After the ASLA/PRK treatment, you need to get some rest, avoid physical activity for the period recommended by the surgeon, and also take a few leaves to rest and recuperate from the surgery.
Summary
ASLA/PRK eye surgery is the ideal treatment option for patients suffering from refractive vision problems such as Myopia. It is generally prescribed by eye surgeons when the thickness of the cornea is not ideal for other procedures like LASIK. Also, it is considered to be relatively safer because the patient does not have to worry about an additional corneal flap, which can lead to certain problems like epithelial ingrowth.
ASLA/PRK eye surgery is an extremely effective treatment that works wonders for patients suffering from vision issues. However, if you want the best results, you need to undergo this treatment under the supervision of an eye surgeon with long-term experience and pedigree in the field of eye surgery.