PRK Surgery From San Diego Eye Doctor Gives Andy "The Tooth Fairy" Murad a Clearer World View

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 7, 2015) - For almost his entire life, MMA Fighter Andy "The Tooth Fairy" Murad has been frustrated by nearsightedness. He hated wearing glasses (and had a tendency to lose them), and he was tired of having to walk right up to a street sign in order to see it clearly. Most importantly, since he often had trouble seeing objects at night, he had to limit his driving because he didn't want to endanger his wife and children. That all changed when an optometrist friend, Dr. Aaron Werner, recommended Andy have PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) -- a laser eye surgery treatment that removes a thin layer of tissue from the surface of the eye's cornea, ultimately helping to improve focus.

Dr. Werner referred Andy to Gordon-Weiss-Schanzlin Vision Institute, a San Diego vision care practice that offers LASIK, PRK, and other eye treatments. Dr. Werner says he told Andy, for his particular needs, PRK was likely the best option to help him reduce his reliance on corrective eyewear and enhance his natural vision. "There are many, many different options when it comes to refractive surgery, and while LASIK or PRK may be the most 'common,' I express to a patient that, for most eyes, we have options. I take into consideration the patient's job and hobbies when recommending one or another. Both [LASIK and PRK] have positives and negatives. When an individual's [prescription], desires, ocular health, and expected outcomes all agree, I recommend they pursue the refractive surgery process by speaking with an excellent surgeon."

Andy ultimately met with Dr. Michael Gordon at Gordon-Weiss-Schanzlin Vision Institute, who told him PRK was indeed the best option in his particular case. Like many people, Andy was nervous at the thought of anything ever coming near his eye, but his experience during the treatment was not what he had imagined. "From the beginning on the day of surgery, I was terrified. That's unusual for me to say because I am the type of person who can pretty much take anything. But, once I got into the procedure... it was nothing. It took about two or three minutes per eye. I didn't feel anything, I was very comfortable -- really no discomfort at all."

He says a lot of those feelings extended to the recovery process as well: "I understand that people have said the procedure is different for everybody, but as far as the couple of days of discomfort that you're supposed to feel [during recovery] goes, it wasn't that bad at all for me. Anytime my eyes got a little itchy, I just put some drops in and I was fine. I never needed to use any painkillers that I was given; they gave me some drops to numb my eyes if needed -- I didn't use those either. It was fine."

It typically takes a few days after PRK treatment to start noticing precisely how much vision has improved, and once the recovery process was complete, Andy began to realize just how significant the difference really was. "Before, I wouldn't really like to drive the car at night, especially with my family -- I didn't want to put my kids in danger. Now, I'm driving the kids and driving my wife around instead of asking her to drive because it's too late and I can't see so well. That's a huge plus. I went out for a jog the other day, and it was the funniest thing... I was staring at the beautiful trees, and everything just looked so much nicer. You don't know what you're missing out on until you go through this experience. I honestly can tell you it's changed my life."

Today, Andy is seeing the world without glasses... and he's enjoying the view.

About Gordon-Weiss-Schanzlin Vision Institute
With more than 70 years of collective experience, eye surgeons at Gordon-Weiss-Schanzlin Vision Institute (GWSVI) are certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and members of numerous medical organizations and societies. The practice has been serving the eye and vision care needs of the La Jolla and San Diego communities for more than 20 years, offering procedures such as LASIK, PRK, laser cataract surgery, and treatments for presbyopia, Dry Eye Syndrome, corneal disorders, and other conditions. GWSVI is known for its participation in major clinical research trials and the contributions of its doctors to significant advancements in vision correction and refractive surgery techniques.

For more information about Gordon-Weiss-Schanzlin Vision Institute, please visit gwsvision.com and facebook.com/lasiksandiego.

To view the original source of this press release, click here: https://www.gwsvision.com/latest-news/prk-surgery-from-san-diego-eye-doctor-gives-andy-the-tooth-fairy-murad-a-clearer-world-view

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