PRK or LASIK - cyclist / skiing - will LASIK flap create issues?
Hey everybody-
I have a couple of questions for those that have gone through the LASIK or PRK process. I am currently going to get laser correction (at Kraff - Matt, believe this is the same place you went), and am still unsure whether to get PRK or LASIK. My main concern is with the LASIK flap. I bike quite often and ski as well. I fall often when I ski, and while I can't say I crash often on the bike, I assume it'll happen sooner or later.
I'm worried about the flap popping out in a collision, getting messed up if somebody accidentally pokes me in the eye, etc. Is this a concern I should really have with these activities (and knowing I'm prone to stupid accidents like getting poked in the eye)?
With this concern, I am trying to compare the two procedures. From what I can tell, the major difference is recovery time, which is longer with PRK. Is this correct for those of you who have researched it? Is there a greater rate of success/failure with either procedure, or more importantly, are there any other downsides to PRK apart from the additional pain and longer time before you see well?
Thanks in advance for your input!
John
Re: Flap issues
I believe the odds of the flap bursting or popping out are very negligible. AFAIK, the U.S. Air Force doesn't allow their pilots to get LASIK, only PRK due to the possibility of a pressure based rupture. Personally, that fact and my distaste for break and fix types of procedures pushed me to suck it up and get PRK (the recovery is longer). There isn't any difference in the amount of correction or the success rate.
-Matt
Stats
Matt,
When you say there isn't any difference in the amount of correction or success rate, where were you able to do research on this and find these statistics? I've looked around but have had a hard time finding side-by-side comparisons for PRK and LASIK that compare similar individuals or even mass populations of people. Thanks!
John
Re: Stats
That information came from my doctor. I didn't independently validate it.
-Matt
One other question...
Thanks Matt! One other question for you - you mention in your side-by-side recovery post that you were anxious to get to the point when you didn't have halos, blurry vision, and could see great at long distances.
How long did that take to happen? How is your vision today after the full recovery? Do your eyes get dry and tired after looking at a computer all day as others on your board have noted? (in other words, is there anything that bothers you about your post-PRK vision?)
Thanks again for all of the help - your site and comments has definitely been helpful as I go through this decision myself.
John
Re: on other question
It took a full six months for the vision to be stable and clear. After about six months, maybe a little bit longer, my eyes stopped getting tired and dry as well. Good luck!
-Matt