SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Lasik surgery is considered one of the most important advances in the last century, but now some say people with vision problems should take a second look at an older technology, PRK.
Both surgeries correct several vision problems including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, but 33-percent of people who would like to have Lasik don't qualify for the procedure because of their eye shape, or prescription strength. PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) could still be an option for them, and now it's been proven to be equally safe and effective.
During Lasik surgery, a laser is used to create a flap in the outer cornea tissue. A laser is then used to reshape the deeper cornea tissue. It all takes place in a matter of seconds. The flap is then folded back over, and healing, and new vision happens in just hours. Majid Moshirfar, M.D., F.A.C.S, from the Moran Eye Center, says the speed of recovery makes Lasik a popular choice, but it’s not the only choice.
PRK was developed decades ago. There's no corneal flap to act as a natural band aid. Special contacts are used for about five days to protect the eye and facilitate healing. Dr. Moshirfar says it wasn't very popular. "Surgeons didn't like it, and patients had a lot pain with it, but now you have to understand, that a lot of patients get PRK and the pain is negligible and the healing is reasonable."
So doctors at Moran Eye Center wanted to know which was safer, and if they are equally effective. Unlike past studies with two study groups, this time researchers used two eyes, in the same people. "One eye got PRK and one got Lasik."
They tested the patients for vision, and the eyes for scarring, and what they found three months after the study was good news for anyone who doesn’t qualify for Lasik but is still interested in permanently losing their glasses. "You really cannot find a big difference between the PRK eyes versus the Lasik eye."
Dr. Moshirfar says the scarring and vision problems patients with PRK complained about in the past are no longer an issue thanks to new and better lasers, better medications and better protective contact lenses. Dr. Moshirfar says the research opens up better vision to more people.
