It is a myth that the recovery process for TransPRK is “much slower and really uncomfortable”. With modern TransPRK, the cornea treatment surface area is only about a small 8 mm diameter area.
After treatment, a protective high oxygen permeable contact lens is placed immediately upon the treated cornea surface to protect and to promote good and fast surface healing for four to five days after which it is removed. At the same time, NSAID eyedrops, antibiotic and steroid eye drops are prescribed.
Following TransPRK, most patients will experience discomfort and transient blurring that is described as mild and tolerable. This lasts from 2 to 3 days. Almost all patients go back to work on the 5th day after the protection contact lenses are removed.
With modern TransPRK, only a minority of patients will describe the discomfort as moderate or beyond.
TransPRK patients recover faster from post-op dry eyes and often feel no need for lubricating drops after two weeks. They can also resume active rugged sports earlier. For example, a MMA or boxing enthusiast can even resume full sparing after two weeks.
However, all TransPRK patients have to be careful to wear eyeshades when outdoors in the sun and to use the prescribed eye drops to prevent cornea haze for six weeks.
