
Most people who have suffered from severe dry eye symptoms for long enough will seek out any means to stop them. There are, in fact, many different ways that ophthalmologists can help patients overcome the disease, but one very effective treatment that you may not have heard of is PROKERA®.
Keep reading to find out if PROKERA® could work for your dry eye symptoms!
What is Causing Your Dry Eye?
Dry eye can be tricky to solve because so many different factors can cause it. It can be caused by something as simple as too much screen time or other things like your eyes not producing the right amount of oil that is necessary for healthy tear production.
Dry eye can also be caused by lack of hydration, your environment, as a side effect of certain drugs, as a symptom of other diseases, allergies, and many other problems.
It is essential to find the root cause of your dry eye because while eye drops can provide temporary relief, they will not cure the condition. What’s even worse is that dry eye can compound on itself, creating a feedback loop that worsens the disease by causing inflammation, resulting in even drier eyes.
Having eyes that feel dry and irritated can lead to other eye conditions that affect the surface of your cornea, like scarring, corneal ulcers, and diseases like keratitis can also trigger dry eye.
PROKERA® Restores Corneal Tissue Safely
A healthy cornea is a vital part of your ability to see. When it becomes damaged from disease, suffers from abrasions, or frequently experiences herpetic ulcers, it can become inflamed and chronically dry. PROKERA® is a revolutionary way to heal your corneal tissue safely and effectively.
PROKERA® is essentially a tiny fitted bandage that is placed over your cornea. It is made of amniotic membrane tissue, which promotes natural biological functions that can heal the surface of the eye. The donated tissue comes from people who consent and are thoroughly tested for potential conditions or eye diseases.
The amniotic tissue is attached to rings crafted from durable yet flexible substances while remaining transparent. The device is thoroughly sterilized, and topical anesthesia is applied to your eye before placing it over the problem cornea like a contact lens.
How PROKERA® Works
The PROKERA® device remains on the eye’s surface until it takes full effect. It can last anywhere between 3 to 7 days or longer, depending on the severity of the damage.
The progress of your recovery can be easily monitored, even with the device still in your eye. PROKERA® is a very safe, effective treatment that is fully FDA-approved to treat corneal issues.
While some people may be nervous about using donated tissues for medical purposes, the amniotic tissue used in PROKERA® is strictly monitored and must pass several quality control tests. It is cryopreserved to ensure no contamination affects it in transit.
Your eye health is essential. Take control of your own by improving your dry eye symptoms. Schedule an appointment at Westlake Eye Specialists in Austin, TX, to learn more about how PROKERA® can help you!