Healing time for PRK is a bit longer compared to the Lasik procedure. So, PRK patients have to wait a bit longer to drive. And the patient has to come to for the surgery along with a family member or a friend to get back home, as they cannot drive, right after the surgery of PRK.
PRK Procedure and Drive
PRK procedure is performed as an outpatient surgery and needs at least 5 to 15 minutes for each eye. Anaesthetic drops are given to the eyes for numbing and feel no pain, before the procedure starts. The surface layer of the cornea will then be removed and cornea is reshaped using excimer layer that is guided and operated through computer-controlled light energy pulses.
Once the cornea reshaping is completed, a bandage contact lens will then inserted by the surgeon for protecting the cornea and retained until epithelial layer is grown back. With this bandage, it is not usually possible to drive, as patient can see only with one eye. So, the patient has to arrange somebody to drive the car and take the patient back home. Hence, immediately after the surgery, the patient cannot drive to get back home.
Drive During Recovery
The bandage is retained at least 3 to 5 days after the surgery. During these days, driving is not possible with one eye. After the bandage is removed during the follow-up visit, the patient will be able to drive, in ideal conditions. However, the patient has to judge oneself and take the decision of going for drive or not, on the basis of how fast and how well the image can be captured and interpreted, while driving.
Ideally, it is always good to take 10 days of rest after the PRK procedure. optimally, one can resume driving and get back to the work after 4 to 5 days after the surgery. When enough rest is taken, without straining the eyes, recovery can be faster and the epithelium layer can grow back and restart functioning as it is supposed to be. Any how, you are the best person to judge how well you are comfortable driving after removing the bandage.
You should never forget to take the opinion from the surgeon regarding resuming driving during the follow-up visits. If you continue to experience any serious inconvenience, even after removing the bandage, talk to your doctor and take the guidelines and instructions accordingly. Follow each and every guideline of the doctor seriously and use the medicine without fail, regularly.