Brusco Vision Explains the Use of ASA PRK for Vision Correction

Falls Church, Virginia -

Brusco Vision, a vision correction clinic based in Falls Church, VA, has recently published a blog post about the use of ASA PRK for vision correction. Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA), which is a modern update of Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), is a LASIK alternative for a subset of candidates for laser eye surgery with special considerations. It is considered to be most suitable for patients who have thin corneas, scarring, minor corneal irregularities, and also for patients who are engaged in contact sports, employed in certain branches of the armed forces, or those with keratoconus who have had crosslinking done.

ASA has been found to offer equivalent vision to sub-Bowman's keratomileusis (SBK) LASIK in many research studies without requiring the use of any kind of corrective lens. ASA PRK is essentially a LASIK procedure without making a corneal flap. However, in contrast to SBK LASIK, the recovery time for ASA PRK is typically longer, which is several days rather than several hours. In addition, after the operation, the patient may be slightly uncomfortable.

Dr. Michael Brusco from Brusco Vision says, “Like SBK LASIK, the PRK procedure corrects vision by reshaping the corneal tissue to correct nearsightedness (myopia), far-sightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. Instead of using a femtosecond laser to prepare the cornea for treatment, ASA is performed by gently removing the epithelium (outer skin layer of the cornea). Then the excimer laser is applied to the surface of the cornea, and your vision is corrected in the same manner as with SBK LASIK eye surgery. The outer surface of the eye is reshaped to correct your nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. After the laser has fully reshaped the eye, a special contact lens is placed to protect the cornea while the epithelium heals underneath.”

Dr. Brusco wants to emphasize that ASA at Brusco Vision in Washington DC and the DMV provides an excellent solution for patients who are at least 18 years old with a stable vision refraction and are looking for a safe and effective alternative to wearing contacts or eyeglasses. The same FDA-approved lasers for SBK LASIK are also employed in ASA. ASA is not as frequently recommended as SBK LASIK because of the longer recovery time. During the initial consultation of the patient at Brusco Vision, the staff will perform their advanced necessary ocular and vision analysis (ANOVA) and the patient will meet with Dr. Brusco who will evaluate the diagnostic results to find out if the patient is a PRK candidate and if the procedure is the most suitable for the patient.

There are a number of benefits offered by the ASA procedure. First, laser vision correction is safer compared to wearing contact lenses. With long-term use, developing a serious eye infection is several times higher with contact lenses compared to the one-time experience of ASA. Second, the patient can actually save money with ASA. While the cost of the ASA vision correction procedure requires a significant initial investment, it is actually less compared to the total amount spent on contact lenses or glasses over a period of time. Plus, the procedure can allow the patient to live more independently because there is no need to worry about glasses or contacts, thus it also saves time.

Brusco Vision is a boutique-style laser vision correction and refractive surgical facility that was founded and is owned and operated by Dr. Michael Brusco, who has successfully helped tens of thousands of patients gain natural clear vision and get their visual freedom back. He has a team of well-trained, caring, and patient staff who will guide each patient through the process of corrective vision surgery. Michael A. Brusco, MD, FACS has dedicated his practice to vision correction in the DMV and Washington DC. Dr. Brusco is an award-winning and board-certified refractive surgery subspecialist who has successfully performed more than 40,000 corneal-based vision correction procedures, including high-definition all-laser LASIK and PRK. Furthermore, he has performed more than 5,000 lens-based procedures such as, refractive cataract surgery, refractive lens exchange (RLE or Custom Lens Replacement), and Visian ICL.

Those who are interested in knowing more about ASA PRK for vision correction can check out the Brusco Vision website or contact Dr. Brusco on the telephone or through email. They are open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, from Monday to Friday; and from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays.