Steroid drops after PRK

Hello,

I was wondering if somebody can explain the purpose of steroid drops
(such as Flarex) after PRK surgery, and why the duration for the
prescribed usage of the drops is directly proportional to the
magnitude of the pre-surgery prescription.

I had -7.5 in the left eye, and I have to use Flarex for almost six
months. My right eye was -6.5, and there I have to use the drops for
about three months.

Just wondering.

Thanks,
Irina Paley

 

Steroid eye drops are commonly prescribed after Lasik, PRK, LASEK, and
Epi-Lasik to mute the wound response and reduce inflammation of the
cornea.

The larger the pre-operative refractive error, the greater the amount
of corneal tissue that must be removed to provide correction. The
greater the tissue removal, the greater the wound response - including
regression. The amount of steroids and the duration of their use is
most likely to be determined by the type of surgery (PRK requiring
more than Lasik, large correction requiring more than small
corrections) and the individual patient's response.

Two important facts about steroid eye drops to remember are to use
them exactly as directed by the doctor without stopping or reducing
them until new doctor instructions, and that long-term steroid use can
cause the pressure inside the eye to become elevated. Your doctor
should check this intraocular pressure (IOP) regularly.

Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
USAEyes (R)
Patient Advocacy Surgeon Certification

"Consider and Choose With Confidence" (TM)

Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org

http://www.USAEyes.org

Lasik Bulletin Board
http://www.USAEyes.org/Ask-Lasik-Expert/

Mr. Hagele is not a doctor.

This transmission is on behalf of the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance(TM) and is not endorsed, submitted, or representative of any other organization or entity. Copyright Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance(TM). All rights reserved.
All Rights Reserved

 

Thanks again for a clear explanation, Glenn.

What are the problems associated with elevated IOP? I do get that
checked at every appointment, but my appointments are about once a
month.

 

What are the problems associated with elevated IOP? I do get that

Long-term elevated IOP can cause damage to the optic nerve, which can
cause serious degradation in vision. Fortunately, it takes some time
for this to occur and the damage is gradual.

Not everyone responds to steroid use with elevated IOP. If at your
one-week postop appointment you did not have an elevated IOP, it is
not very likely that you will later. However, being checked every
month is a good idea for as long as you are using the steroids.

Short-term high IOP spikes will cause vision to go blank, such as if
you press on your eyes or during Lasik when the microkeratome is
affixed to the eye with suction. Even then, the probability of damage
to an otherwise healthy eye is relatively low.

Keep in mind that elevated IOP can occur naturally, commonly due to
glaucoma, and IOP should be checked regularly.

Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
USAEyes (R)
Patient Advocacy Surgeon Certification

"Consider and Choose With Confidence" (TM)

Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org

http://www.USAEyes.org

Lasik Bulletin Board
http://www.USAEyes.org/Ask-Lasik-Expert/

Mr. Hagele is not a doctor.

This transmission is on behalf of the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance(TM) and is not endorsed, submitted, or representative of any other organization or entity. Copyright Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance(TM). All rights reserved.
All Rights Reserved