PRK takes considerably more time for recovery, compared to the other laser eye surgery, Lasik. So, the patient has to be prepared to take enough time rest after the surgery, before resuming the day to day activities.
Why Longer Recovery Time After PRK?
Compared to Lasik, PRK takes more time for recovery. The reason is simple and technical. During the procedure, the outer layer of the cornea, which is also called as epithelium layer is removed from the surface of the cornea. Eventually, the patient has to wait to get back to the day to day normal activities until this layer is grown back to a considerable level. Cornea is started healing from the edges and continues to heal towards the center and epithelium ridge is formed across the pupil, where meeting of the healing tissues is performed. This ridge takes 4 to 5 days to form, usually and it gives green signal and safety signal to remove the contact lens bandage.
By the formation of ridge, the vision gets improved to a range of 20/30 to 20/50, according to the corrective treatment done. This epithelium ridge gets smoothen out in 4 to 6 weeks and vision gets improved gradually.
Usually, it takes 30 days for regeneration of this layer. Hence, the vision will be completely clear and the best outcomes can be started experiencing after one month to six weeks of duration.
Experience During Recovery
Contact lens bandage covering the eye can decrease the discomfort level during the first 4 to 5 days after the surgery. And the patient experiences mild to moderate discomfort and feels the sensation of a foreign body, staying in the eye.
During the recovery, it is common to experience blurred vision, sensitivity to light and tearing. These symptoms can be relieved after the surface of cornea is started healing. And medically, relieving is possible, as chilled medicated lubricating drops are prescribed to apply in the eyes for faster cornea healing. The same drops also help to decrease any possible risk of infection and scar formation.
Best Results After PRK
For the best results, visual clarity and crispy and crystal clear vision can be experienced by the patient after a couple of months. The vision keeps bettered from one month to couple of months and then clear vision gets stabilized. On an overall, it takes 3 months to 6 months to start enjoying the better vision fruits by the patient. Better care and following every guideline and recommendation of the eye surgeon can fasten this period of recovery.