LASIK or PRK?

[fox2102]

Ok I have a dilema. I'm going for a screening in a few weeks to see if i'm a candidate for LASIK or PRK. Now I know the Navy is studying LASIK and has been for some time. I'm ok with getting PRK but the recovery time is rather long compared to LASIK and with as busy as I am could limit my ability to go to school and work and all since I have to drive so far.

My question is weather or not I should go ahead and get LASIK and hope the Navy approves it, just try to work it out so i can get PRK, or just hold off and see what happens with the LASIK study first? Just kinda wanna get some opinions

 

[Python]

Ok I have a dilema. I'm going for a screening in a few weeks to see if i'm a candidate for LASIK or PRK. Now I know the Navy is studying LASIK and has been for some time. I'm ok with getting PRK but the recovery time is rather long compared to LASIK and with as busy as I am could limit my ability to go to school and work and all since I have to drive so far.

My question is weather or not I should go ahead and get LASIK and hope the Navy approves it, just try to work it out so i can get PRK, or just hold off and see what happens with the LASIK study first? Just kinda wanna get some opinions

You will be disqualified if you get lasik. The study is for current pilots and NFOs. I got PRK and did not think that the recovery time was terribly long (maybe a week tops).

 

[torpedo0126]

a lot of people for some reason are under the impression that LASIK is somehow better than PRK. They use the exact same laser (at least what was used on me) except that LASIK often will use the Intralase laser as well to make the flap in your eye.

You will get the same if not better results with PRK w/ wavefront technology.

Your overall recovery time, yes, will be longer. Will you be out of commission? Absolutely not. First 2-3 days you will be in discomfort, but you most likely get it done on a thursday or friday and have the weekend to recover.

Lastly, remember that LASIK fundamentally alters the structure of your eye. In hindsight, I would have still gotten PRK because I like knowing that there is no permanent flap in my eye.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor--these are my opinions and information that was passed to me by my surgeon a few years ago. 20/10 in both eyes. Worth every penny.

 

[JSF_Dreamer]

Get on the phone and call the Navy Refractive Surgery center in San Diego, CA. Ask them if LASIK is still disqualifying for people who want to become pilots. If the answer is yes, get PRK. If the answer is no, get LASIK.

They are both miracles of surgery. I got PRK last year and I'm 20/30 or better in both eyes. That's coming from worse than 20/400 in both eyes. It's quite an amazing difference.

With PRK they are going to laser the surface of the eye and reshape it to improve your vision.

With LASIK they will cut a flap on the top of your cornea and laser under the flap, then put the flap back over.

Heal time with LASIK is great. Little no pain at all. PRK was a bitch for me. It varies with everyone, but I couldn't handle it with no meds. I hadn't filled my prescription of Lortab until after the surgery. But it was some kind of generic Lortab that gave me headaches so bad it was almost the same as not taking anything. But some people say they have very moderate pain.

If you want to be a pilot, and you need surgery, and LASIK is still disqualifying, then get PRK. If LASIK has been cleared for active duty pilots DO IT!

Just find yourself a good specialist and good luck!

 

[torpedo0126]

its something like 98% of the healing occurs within the first 1-2 weeks after PRK. The last 2% comes in over 3-8 months. For me that was just things focusing at great distances.

I was seeing 20/20 the next day. After 8 months my eyes have settled to 20/10 in each eye.

Don't worry about choosing. Just get PRK.

While theoretically LASIK is just fine, until someone actually ejects with LASIK having been performed, I'm happy with PRK.

 

[SteveG75]

PRK in January 2001. Still 20/20 to 20/15 depending on the day.

Surgery on Thursday, post-op Friday and Monday. Flew home from San Diego to Whidbey on Monday and drove home from the airport. Was med-up and flying the Prowler in 6 weeks. Toughest part was the immediate 48 hours after surgery. Dark room, percocet and eyedrops were the ticket there.

 

[nugget61]

You will be disqualified if you get lasik. The study is for current pilots and NFOs. I got PRK and did not think that the recovery time was terribly long (maybe a week tops).

Bad gouge. You can get into the lasik study as a civ applicant now.

Ok I have a dilema. I'm going for a screening in a few weeks to see if i'm a candidate for LASIK or PRK. Now I know the Navy is studying LASIK and has been for some time. I'm ok with getting PRK but the recovery time is rather long compared to LASIK and with as busy as I am could limit my ability to go to school and work and all since I have to drive so far.

My question is weather or not I should go ahead and get LASIK and hope the Navy approves it, just try to work it out so i can get PRK, or just hold off and see what happens with the LASIK study first? Just kinda wanna get some opinions

Given that they both have the same time to get a waiver, the PRK recovery only sucks for about 3 days (and before this thread I've never heard of anyone needing more than Tylenol for the pain), they're the same price and you don't have to do special paperwork or anything for the PRK, I'd go that route. But it's your choice.
Do some research into the technology and then decide which you're more comfortable with.

 

[BACONATOR]

Get PRK. Any questions?

 

[PSU3333]

LASIK is approved for Active Duty

I must admit, I don't know too much about healing time difference between PRK and LASIK, however the time period you are MED Down for LASIK is significantly shorter. I applied for, and was accepted to PRK back in 2006. I had my surgery date set, and 2 weeks prior the Navy changed the med down period from 1 month to 3 months. I opted not to get the surgery, as it would put me behind timeline for quals.
I am now on shore duty at the E-2 FRS and a fellow instructor just completed LASIK. I looked into the program and have my first appointment at the end of April. Basically, if you qualify for LASIK they will put your name on the study list (you need to see them every so often to monitor progress) and then you can get the surgery. Med down time for LASIK is only 2 weeks.

 

[Junkball]

Prk>lasik

I must admit, I don't know too much about healing time difference between PRK and LASIK, however the time period you are MED Down for LASIK is significantly shorter. I applied for, and was accepted to PRK back in 2006. I had my surgery date set, and 2 weeks prior the Navy changed the med down period from 1 month to 3 months. I opted not to get the surgery, as it would put me behind timeline for quals.
I am now on shore duty at the E-2 FRS and a fellow instructor just completed LASIK. I looked into the program and have my first appointment at the end of April. Basically, if you qualify for LASIK they will put your name on the study list (you need to see them every so often to monitor progress) and then you can get the surgery. Med down time for LASIK is only 2 weeks.

While LASIK definitely has its advantages as you say, if I were aware of all the costs and benefits of each surgery with the option to get either one, I'd still get PRK. Results have been better long-term, from what I understand, and final vision usually shows more improvement. I would rather not have a flap cut in my eye either. A couple days of pain is really nothing in the grand scheme of things... but if you did have a time-crunch as you describe, the option to do LASIK would be nice.

 

[PSU3333]

While LASIK definitely has its advantages as you say, if I were aware of all the costs and benefits of each surgery with the option to get either one, I'd still get PRK. Results have been better long-term, from what I understand, and final vision usually shows more improvement. I would rather not have a flap cut in my eye either. A couple days of pain is really nothing in the grand scheme of things... but if you did have a time-crunch as you describe, the option to do LASIK would be nice.

I completely agree; if you are on shore tour or have already made your quals in your fleet squadron, I would get PRK. In the Hawkeye community, you have 24 months to make mission commander, and a 3 month med down period would have set that back significantly. Plus PRK has more study information about it then LASIK; if I get approved, I will be part of the data collection. On the flip side, I did have a buddy get PRK while in college and for whatever reason it didn't take and he did not qualify as a pilot and became and NFO.

 

[fox2102]

well my vision is probably worse than 20/400 at this point because that's what it was 4 years ago. So i will most liking go with PRK and try to work out the schedule. I've got time to work it out considering it may be several months before I can get up the cash to pay for it.

 

[nugget61]

well my vision is probably worse than 20/400 at this point because that's what it was 4 years ago. So i will most liking go with PRK and try to work out the schedule. I've got time to work it out considering it may be several months before I can get up the cash to pay for it.

They care about your diopters prescription, not your 20/#.
You should go and get an eval now - they're usually free as the doc wants to snag you, but you'll also learn about the financing they offer. Being an expensive elective surgery, they'll work with you more than you'd imagine.
And you'll be med down for a while, so you'll want to get the surgery done as soon as possible I'd imagine.

 

[fox2102]

Yeah i've already got an eval scheduled in a couple weeks. Going to see what all my options are then