Athletes worry whether having PRK will pose a risk to their sports careers. Is it safe for amateur, college and professional athletes to undergo PRK surgery without risking their most important hobbies and careers? The answer is yes, it is safe.
Contact and combative sports can be dangerous right after surgery. But, once you have recovered, you will be much happier and more competitive because you will have an edge against opponents who have visual problems that you no longer experience. Some of the sports affected by undergoing PRK procedures include:
· Soccer
· Football
· Boxing
· Kick boxing
· Martial arts
· Mixed martial arts
Is PRK surgery dangerous for athletes?
Research has determined that following PRK eye surgery, the patient's eyes are capable of enduring high degrees of stress that involve very little or no risk to the patient. Contrary to what many people believe, PRK does not weaken the eyeball and does not have any negative effects on athletes who have undergone the surgery.
Immediately after you have undergone PRK eye surgery, your eye doctor will instruct you to refrain from any physical sports, especially those during which you have direct contact with other players. This should be avoided for a two-week period. During this period, your eye will gradually heal and return to nearly the strength that it was at before PRK.
Research shows that the integrity of the cornea is not lost during procedures performed by qualified surgeons on qualified patients. O
Why avoid sports immediately after PRK surgery?
One of the main reasons that your eye surgeon will tell you to avoid exercise and sports immediately after PRK surgery is to prevent infection. The eyelashes and the skin surrounding the eyes contain many different kinds of bacteria. Sweat from exerting yourself during exercise and active sports can cause these bacteria to wash into the eyes. This is also why bathing and showers should be completed with extreme caution to be sure nothing enters the eye.
PRK and combat sports
Combat sports are extremely popular for fans as well as the athletes who participate. But are they safe? The answer is yes. Athletes that feel as though they cannot perform to the best of their abilities due to the need for corrective lenses can now thoroughly enjoy getting involved and competitive. No longer is there a need to worry whether or not a match will be stopped while one of the players searches for a contact that has popped out of his eye.
PRK is a very similar surgery to LASIK. The results of both are very safe and effective. The key difference that makes PRK more suited for contact sports athletes is that there is no flap that can be dislodged from a severe blow to the eye. PRK uses the same laser and procedure as LASIK. But, PRK is performed directly on the front surface of the cornea, while LASIK is performed on an inner layer of the eye.
PRK does not reduce your risk of eye damage during contact sports. It does however, improve your ability to see your opponent and avoid many of the more damaging hits that can cause serious eye and even brain injury.
You love the game. You enjoy the exercise, competition and interactions with others who share your appreciation. Now you can love your chosen sport even more without having to depend on the use of glasses or contacts.
To learn more about athletes and PRK in the Calgary and Alberta, Canada areas, please visit the website or Dr. E. Anderson Penno today.
