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