To Whom It May Concern,

I have a question regarding the logevity of eye surgery. I am twenty three years old, and am looking at getting prk surgery to treat myopia. I was wondering, say I have this surgery now, will I have anything to worry about when I am 60 or 70 yrs old - I complete understand that presobyia will set in - But, I have been told that eye surgery can cause eye dryness - and that eyes generally tend to dry out with age - is this true? What can I expect from my eyes down the road if I were to have this surgery? Any and all info appreciated.

Regards,
Mike

Refractive surgery like the PRK you are contemplating will make permanent changes to your eyes, but with or without refractive surgery your eyes will undoubtedly change over the next 40-odd years. How much change and when is going to be very difficult to predict.

Temporary dry eyes is a known complication of refractive surgery, but it tends to occur less often with PRK and be less severe when it does occur. Our Quality Standards Advisory Committee has determined that 97% of all refractive surgery patients (all procedures, all types of refractive error) do not have an unresolved complication at six months postop. Of the remaining 3% with an unresolved problem, about 0.5% have a serious complication that requires extensive maintenance or invasive intervention. These are generalities. Your individual circumstances may be very different. Only after a comprehensive examination by a qualified doctor will you know what you can reasonably expect, and then decide if that level of risk is acceptable.

PRK has been around for about fifteen years, but it has been in the last 10 that popularity of laser-assisted refractive surgery has really taken off. Because there is not a 40+ year history of this particular procedure, it is impossible to do a retroactive study. One can extrapolate from data gathered from the millions of procedures that have been performed on people of all ages as well decades of ocular research. This indicates that PRK is safe and effective, as affirmed by the FDA.

If you want guarantees, don’t have surgery. If you are willing to accept the relative level of risk associated with PRK, then it may be appropriate for you. Only a qualified doctor who has examined you can advise you on your individual risk. Only you are going to be able to decide what amount of risk is acceptable.

Glenn Hagele
CRSQA
http://www.USAEyes.org

I am not a doctor.