It has been over four months since my surgery, and I could not be more pleased with the results…read more Dr. M and his staff made this a great experience for me. I would like to share my story and background if my history relates to other prospects considering the PRK procedure.
I am a 40-year-old male, and before my surgery, my prescription was -4.25/-4.50 with a slight/mild astigmatism in both eyes. I started needing glasses at the age of 12 and I was in contacts by 13. About 5 years ago, I started noticing the discomfort of wearing contacts on a daily basis. I would come home from work, and immediately take them out, if I had no plans that evening. I also have extremely dry eyes, and usually use re-wetting drops frequently.
I have always found glasses to be a nuisance, and wearing them for long periods of time gave me a headache. My goal was to get Lasik by the time I turned 40. I priced out the surgery with several surgeons in the D/FW metro-plex, including my optometrist, and I found the PRK procedure to be rather competitive to the traditional Lasik procedure, so I decided to make an appointment with Dr. M./M Lasik Center since there was no fee for the consultation. (I ended up paying about $200 more than what my eye doctor quoted me, based on my prescription, and considering my astigmatisms.)
Halfway through the consultation, I already knew I had decided that this is the route I wanted to go. Dr. M. encouraged me to do my research first before making a solid decision, but I was already sold. During the consultation, Dr. M. has you watch a video of his competitor (a local Lasik surgeon) that had Dr. M. perform the PRK procedure on all 5 of her children. There's really not much more that needed to be said at that point.
I have heard stories about how many Lasik patients feel like cattle during their procedure, as other institutions perform this procedure in droves. At M Lasik Center, there's only one procedure at a time, and Dr. M. performed it himself, with his nurse in the room to assist him. After the procedure, I was taken into a post-recovery room, where I was the only one in there. I felt like I was the only patient that day, and cannot relate to other stories that I have heard.
Post-surgery: I did have a lot of headaches and I was overly fatigued, but that was due to the fact that my eyes were sensitive to the steroid drops given, which is rare, but in my case, it happened. I do keep my eyes moistened throughout the day, as post-PRK patients need to since the eyes can be dry for 6-12 months after surgery. The headaches are due to your eyes trying to adjust to their new setting, and that does not recalibrate overnight. Just be patient and understand that it is part of the process.
If you don't choose M Lasik Center, you should at least consider the free consultation. If you do choose Dr. M., just remember that the PRK procedure is different than the traditional Lasik procedure. Do NOT listen to your friends or others that have had the traditional Lasik procedure, because you might hear some conflicting information. Pay attention to Dr. M. and follow every instruction he gives. It can be scary and you probably will be nervous, but you are in great hands and within a couple of months after the surgery, your only regrets will be that you didn't do this sooner.