A little history: I had PRK laser vision correction done in feb 03. I needed to have it done in order to satisfy applicant requirments for the RCMP. I spent a lot of time researching it as well as talking to a couple of optometrists about it. In the end, I went with the PRK procedure from Focus Eye Centre (A company up here in canada). I'll get to my reasons below.
A couple of things to keep in mind:
1. Which procedure are you having done
2. What is your long term risk of eye trauma.
There are two general procedures for laser surgury:
1. LASIK - In this procedure they cut a flap in the surface of the eye so that they can get at the cornea below it. This is probably one of the more advertized types od surgury. With this one, you are pretty much good to go as soon as the procedure is done. The major downside is the flap, on the surface of the eye there is a thin layer of cells called the epithilium (sp?). It ca n grow back, however the cells below it can't. As such there is an inherint weakness left in the eye after this procedure. A jab or hit in the eye at the wrong angle and you run the risk of that flap becoming disloged. Next stop after that is a cornea transplant from a cadaver. Ouch.
2. PRK - In this procedure, they use the laser to burn through the epithilium before they do the actual vision correction. As a result there is no flap cut and no weakness in the eye caused by the cut. However, you have to deal with the healing which lasts considerably longer. As you can imagine it is a little painful seeing as how they burnt the surface of your eye off. I spent 3 days on demerol, sitting in a chair applying frozen face clothes to my face to give some relief. After that initial period my vision improved rapidly.
In the end, seeing as how odds are good i am going to get hit in my soon to be new line of work, PRK was the way to go.
Also, be careful about where you go. Bargain basement is not always the best. There is a company around here that has declared bankrupcy 2 or 3 times (due to lawsuits from clients) and opened up new companies within a year doing the same thing.
Would I do things the same way if i had another chance? Beyond a doubt. I have to get a good 60 years outta these eyes and don't need any parts falling off.
As for how well the surgery went? I now how 20/20 vision in both eyes. It had been as bad as 20/400+ in one eye and aroudn 20/200 in the other one before the procedure. (Yes, that means i had trouble making out letters at 20 feet that normal people could see past the 400 foot mark, ouch). As for my application, I leave for training next month and start just shy of two years after i started the application! :grinbounc
Hmm... Is this some type of record for length of first post?
-Chris
