Are you struggling with persistent dry, irritated eyes that don’t seem to improve with standard treatments? You might require a more advanced treatment like Prokera.
But what is Prokera, and is it right for you? Keep reading to learn more about advanced dry eye treatment with Prokera.
What is Dry Eye?
Dry eye, or dry eye syndrome, is a condition that occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears, or the tears produced are of low quality. This can cause frustrating symptoms like irritation, redness, and blurry vision.
Dry eye syndrome becomes advanced when standard treatments like artificial tears, warm compresses, and lifestyle changes aren’t providing adequate relief. Advanced dry eye can involve significant inflammation, corneal damage, or persistent symptoms that interfere with your daily life and vision.
When your eyes remain chronically dry, the corneal surface can become damaged, leading to inflammation, pain, and even scarring. These advanced cases require more specialized treatment approaches to promote healing and restore comfort.
What is Prokera?
For patients with advanced dry eye, Traverse City Eye offers Prokera, a state-of-the-art biological treatment that promotes healing of the eye’s surface. Prokera is a therapeutic device made by securing a piece of amniotic membrane tissue between two rings composed of a clear, flexible material.
The amniotic membrane, derived from placental tissue, contains natural healing properties that can dramatically improve corneal health in cases of advanced dry eye.
How Does Prokera Work?
The amniotic tissue in Prokera contains powerful natural components that reduce inflammation in the cornea and surrounding tissues, prevent scarring during the healing process, and promote faster healing of damaged corneal surfaces.
What makes Prokera particularly effective is its unique combination of anti-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and specialized proteins that work together to create an optimal healing environment. These biological components are naturally present in amniotic tissue and have been shown to accelerate tissue repair while simultaneously calming the inflammatory response that often exacerbates dry eye symptoms.
For patients who have tried multiple treatments without success, this biological approach often provides the breakthrough they’ve been seeking. Unlike drops or medications that treat symptoms, Prokera addresses the underlying damage to help restore your eye’s surface to a healthier state.
What to Expect During Prokera Treatment
The Prokera treatment process at Traverse City Eye is straightforward and comfortable. First, your eye doctor will examine your eyes thoroughly to confirm that Prokera is the right treatment for your condition.
To begin your treatment, numbing drops will be applied to ensure your comfort. Your eye doctor will gently place the Prokera device on your eye, similar to inserting a contact lens.
The device remains in place for 3-5 days, during which the amniotic membrane continuously delivers its healing properties to your eye’s surface. Your vision will be somewhat blurred while the device is in your eye.
Many patients choose to have Prokera placed in one eye at a time if both eyes require treatment. Your doctor will provide specific guidelines to follow during this time, but generally, you’ll need to avoid rubbing your eyes and may need to limit certain activities that could dislodge the device.
After the treatment period, your doctor will remove the device and evaluate your improvement. Many patients notice significant relief from their dry eye symptoms following Prokera treatment, with effects that can last much longer than traditional therapies.
The full healing benefits may continue to develop over several weeks. While many patients only need one treatment, for some patients with severe or recurring dry eye issues, Prokera treatment may be recommended periodically to maintain improvement.
Who is a Good Candidate for Prokera Treatment?
Prokera is typically recommended for patients with:
- Severe or persistent dry eye symptoms that haven’t responded to other treatments
- Corneal inflammation or damage related to dry eye syndrome
- Recurring corneal erosions or breakdown
- Corneal scarring from chronic dry eye
- Specific inflammatory eye conditions that contribute to dry eye
During your consultation at Traverse City Eye, your ophthalmologist will examine your eyes, review your health history, and ask about yur symptoms to determine if Prokera is the right solution for your specific condition.
How Does Prokera Compare to Other Dry Eye Treatments?
While traditional dry eye treatments focus on managing symptoms, Prokera works to heal the damaged eye surface that causes those symptoms. This makes it particularly effective for advanced cases where prescription eye drops haven’t fully resolved symptoms, other surgical interventions haven’t been successful, or there is evidence of corneal damage that needs healing.
Prokera can be used alongside other treatments as part of a comprehensive approach to managing your dry eye condition.
Advanced Dry Eye Relief at Traverse City Eye
If you’ve been struggling with persistent dry eye symptoms that haven’t responded to standard treatments, it may be time to explore whether Prokera could be the solution you’ve been looking for. Don’t let dry eye continue to impact your comfort and quality of life.
Schedule a comprehensive dry eye evaluation at Traverse City Eye in Traverse City, MI, today, to find out if Prokera could be right for you!