Dr Boothe LASIK

Excimer Laser Photo Refractive Keratectomy, or PRK, is a type of laser eye surgery used to correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. This procedure is mostly intended for those who have thin corneas or any other corneal abnormalities that make them not best suited for Lasik. FDA has approved this technology for the correction of myopia in 1995 and for the treatment of hyperopia in 1998.

The process of performing PRK on both eyes takes only around 5-10 minutes. Before the procedure Dr. Boothe will put some anesthetic drops in your eyes, thus you will not feel any pain or discomfort. During the PRK procedure, a special laser called excimer is used by the surgeon to remove central area of corneal epithelium. The main advantage of PRK over Lasik is that there is no corneal flap made, and that is why there is no risk of flap complications.

After the procedure you will be provided with eye drops and instructed by Dr. Boothe on how to properly use them. You will need them for a month or more, because your eyes may feel dry. Also you will have follow-up appointments after the procedure. The main disadvantage is that the PRK surgery generally has longer recovery time than Lasik and during that time your eyes will be sensitive.

The positive results of Photo Refractive Keratectomy are very high – after a year, 80 percent of nearsighted patients have 20/20 vision. Most others see a significant improvement in their vision. After two or three weeks you will be able to drive a car. Successfully treated PRK patients no longer need glasses or contact lenses.

Nowadays the PRK procedure is less popular than Lasik, and Dr. William Boothe prefers and recommends the Lasik correction because of the faster recovery and the more predictable outcomes after this procedure. The Boothe Eye Care and Laser Center offers a free initial screening if you want to know which procedure is right for you.

Nowadays people with refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism mostly use glasses or contact lenses to correct these eye problems, but today there is a different way to get them to see better, the most advanced and common laser eye surgery, Lasik. To maximize surgical results post-procedure, both patients and surgeons should follow certain protocols.

If you are about to undergo any kind of laser eye correction, it is very important to first find a surgeon with a lot of experience and great qualifications. Remember that your choice directly influences the outcome of your surgery. The results are also highly correlated to the preoperative procedures. For example, at the Boothe Eye Care & Laser Center, which is located in Plano, Texas, your eyes will be examined to confirm the exact refractive errors in your eyes and also a corneal pachymetry will be performed with the help of the latest equipment to determine the thickness of your cornea. All patients should demand such procedures before undergoing a Lasik surgery.

Preparing for Lasik
The first thing you should do it is to stop wearing your contact lenses 2-3 weeks before your laser vision correction, because they change the shape of your cornea. Low-oxygen permeable contact lenses may cause an inflammation of your eyes, and the eyes will need more time to heal after a Lasik procedure. The fact is that a stable shape of the cornea will give you a better success rate of corneal remodelling during the Lasik surgery.

During your initial consultation, Dr. Boothe and his dedicated staff members will gather general information about your vision, lifestyle, history of using glasses and contacts, and your expectations from the Lasik procedure. You have to tell the surgeon about any eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, conjunctivitis; health problems such as diabetes, HIV; and pregnancy. Also you will be asked if you have undergone any other surgeries on your eyes before. If you expect only the best results, prevent complications and achieve the fastest recovery, you should carry out all the instructions above.