PRK is a safe and effective treatment which helps lessen a person’s dependency on glasses or contact lenses. Many people ask themselves if PRK for farsightedness, or PRK hyperopia, is an option for them. Eye surgery to correct farsightedness is possible. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, Dr. Colman Kraff has devoted the past 30 years to bringing the highest level of care to his patients.
There are four types of refractive errors; Myopia (nearsightedness), Hyperopia (farsightedness), Astigmatism, and Presbyopia. The American Academy of Ophthalmology states that about 8.4% of Americans suffer from Hyperopia. Hyperopia, much like the other 3 types of refractive errors, causes people to be dependent on glasses or contact lenses. Frustrated with this dependency to see, people wonder if PRK surgery for farsightedness is a safe treatment option for them. For optimal vision, the light that passes through the eye must hit the retina which is the sensory tissue at the back of the eye. When someone is Hyperopic, their cornea is flatter which causes the light to hit behind the retina, not at the retina. LASER eye surgery farsightedness hyperopia is possible if a patient meets specific requirements.
There are several symptoms that are common for people who suffer from Hyperopia. These symptoms include:
The exact cause of Hyperopia is unknown. Many people believe that poor vision is hereditary and that an individual is born already predisposed to see poorly. For some, a person may experience Hyperopia as a child and if treated the condition goes away as they age. For others, their dependency on glasses or contact lenses worsens as they continue to age. In rare cases, medical conditions, such as diabetes, can cause an individual to develop Hyperopia later on in life.
PRK is one eye surgery option for farsightedness. To understand eye surgery for Hyperopia you must first understand how this condition affects the eye. As mentioned, in order to see clearly and not rely on glasses or contact lenses, light that passes through the eye must focus correctly on the retina. When someone is Hyperopic, their cornea is flatter, causing the light to focus behind the retina, not on it. To correct for this, PRK uses a LASER to remove a microscopic amount of tissue from the cornea. Removing tissue, specifically from the out edges of the cornea, makes the cornea steeper. By changing the shape of the cornea and making it steeper, the light can now focus correctly on the retina.
Listed below is the step-by-step guide that you will follow when you’re ready to get rid of your glasses and see the best that life has to offer!
PRK has been described as a “life changing procedure.” Although this safe and effective treatment has changed the lives of millions of people, not everyone meets the specific requirements to undergo surgery. The first step in determining whether surgery will be an option is to visit us for a complimentary, no-obligation consultation. Preliminary measurements will be done and you will meet with Dr. Kraff who will review your specific information and tell you whether you fall within treatment parameters.
If you are found to be a good candidate for PRK surgery, you will need to stay out of your contact lenses for a period of time leading up to a dilated preoperative exam. At this exam, a series of detailed and precise measurements will be conducted to customize your treatment to your exact visual specifications. Customization will be done utilizing iDesign 2.0 software. This is the most advanced method for performing PRK surgery. You will also be dilated at this exam so that Dr. Kraff can take a look at the internal structures of your eye and ensure that everything is healthy.
PRK is a quick and painless procedure which is usually over in about 15 minutes. A patient will be given several sets of topical numbing drops to ensure that they are comfortable during the treatment. Dr. Kraff will use a small lid speculum which will gently hold the patient’s eyelids open during the procedure. Because the patient’s eyes are numb, they will not even realize that they aren’t blinking. Dr. Kraff will then use an instrument to gently brush off the surface layer of the cornea known as the epithelium. The epithelium is some of the quickest regenerative tissue that we have in our bodies. Once removed, the LASER will treat the exposed areas of the cornea. Once completed, a soft bandage contact lens will be placed on the eye and the same steps will be repeated on the 2nd eye.
Immediately following surgery, a patient will be encouraged to go home and rest. For the first two to three days a patient will need to avoid certain activities like working, using a computer, exercising, driving, and extensive reading. It is normal to experience some discomfort during the first couple of days, but oral pain medication will help to minimize that discomfort. After about three days, enough of the epithelium has regenerated that the bandage contact lenses can safely be removed. Once removed, a patient can return to most of their normal day-to-day activities. Throughout the first year, patients will be seen for several quick follow-up visits.
Eye surgery for Hyperopia may be an option for you! The best way to determine if you fall within treatable parameters for corrective eye surgery for Hyperopia is to come in for a no-cost, no-obligation, consultation.
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When you are here for your initial consultation, our Refractive Consultants will discuss the exact cost of your PRK procedure. As well, the Kraff Eye Institute has partnered with CareCredit to provide patients with great financing options. Patients are also reminded that they can use FSA and HSA funds towards the cost of their PRK surgery.
Dr. Colman Kraff was part of the initial 1991 team leading FDA clinical trials to test and approve LASIK and PRK surgeries in the United States. Dr. Kraff continues to lead research studies on the latest technologies to provide patients with the best eye surgery for farsightedness. Dr. Kraff is among the most skilled and knowledgeable surgeons performing Hyperopia eye surgery in the ophthalmological field today.
Myopia is more common than Hyperopia. The AAO states that around 41.6% of Americans have Myopia and around 8.4% have Hyperopia.
The cost of CustomVue PRK eye surgery using the iDesign 2.0 software ranges from $1800 to $2800 per eye.
No surgery is without risk, however, rest assured that Dr. Kraff’s number one concern is making sure that patients receive the highest and safest level of care.
Presbyopia is an age-related condition in which the internal lens that we are born with no longer adjusts to help us focus on near tasks. Hyperopia is the result of a cornea that is flatter which in term causes the light that passes through the eye to not focus correctly on the retina.
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