Referred to as both Advanced Surface Treatment (AST) and Advanced Photorefractive Keratectomy (Advanced PRK), this procedure is used to correct the shape of your eye’s cornea – the transparent front part of your eyes that cover the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. This allows light to focus more clearly in the eye and brings vision closer to normal for those with nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism.
This method of laser eye surgery is different, and preferable to LASIK, since it does not require any incisions or cuts made in your eye’s cornea. Not only is this much safer but there is also less risk of post-operation infection.
For patients who have thin corneas, irregularly shaped corneas, chronic dry eyes, or high prescriptions, surface ablation procedures place the laser vision correction on the surface of the cornea. This reduces the invasiveness of the surgery and preserves the thickness of your cornea, eliminating the risk of complications related to flap-related procedures like LASIK.
After undergoing laser eye surgery, noticeable improvement of vision will be observed immediately afterwards and you can expect this to continue to improve in the ensuing 4 to 6 months. If you have been living with poor eyesight these dramatic changes will leave you feeling younger and more confident.
As part of Mitchell Eye Centre’s dedication to our patients’ vision, AST / Advanced PRK treatment also includes free enhancement and adjustments for the first 18 months after surgery.
Typical recovery time for patients that have undergone AST / Advanced PRK is 3 days. During this time it is recommended that you “relax your eyes” as much as possible. In particular, you should avoid reading, using computers, using smart phones or tablet devices, watching TV, physical sports, swimming, or using hot tubs.
Some patients may feel discomfort, ranging from mild to severe. This can be due to improper use of the eye drops after the procedure. To ensure that your eyes heal properly, please follow the advice of your doctor.