Is LASIK or PRK Right for You?

The Differences Between LASIK and PRK

When most people talk about LASIK eye procedures, they are referring to one of a number of different types of laser refractive surgery. These include LASIK, LASEK and PRK.

Overview of LASIK Eye Surgery

Due to technological improvements, LASIK is now one of the most frequently performed elective surgeries in the United States. This surgical procedure offers permanent vision correction for many patients, even those who currently require “coke-bottle” glasses or high-power contact lens prescriptions. When you decide that you would like to experience clear vision without the hassle and expense of contacts or glasses, you need to make an appointment for a complete eye check-up and general health history with an experienced ophthalmologist in LASIK eye surgery. He or she will perform a complete eye check and ask you questions about the state of your general health. Once it has been ascertained that you are a good candidate for LASIK, you will be given information about the procedure and can schedule your surgery.

When you arrive at the hospital or clinic, you will be given some oral mild sedation and drops will be administered to numb your eyes. You will lie down on a comfortable chair, like in your dentist’s office, and your eye area will be gently cleansed. You will be asked to stare at a target in the LASIK machine and a computer, guided by the skillful hands of your surgeon, will make precise flaps in the center of your corneas. (This sounds icky but you won’t feel a thing). The flaps will then be repositioned and the surgery is complete—about fifteen minutes from start to finish for both eyes—pretty miraculous! You will notice improved vision immediately; this will gradually improve and stabilize for up to six months.

Following your LASIK procedure, you will need somebody to drive you home. You will probably want to rest for a while. Follow your surgeon’s post-op instructions and return to his or her office for a check-up as prescribed.

Overview of PRK Eye Surgery

PRK, photorefractive keratectomy, was one of the original "surface" laser applications performed with excimer lasers. The excimer laser, invented in 1970, also called an exciplex laser, is a form of ultraviolet laser that is commonly used in eye surgery. Excimer lasers use energy to effectively disintegrate tissue instead of burning or cutting it.

During PRK surgery some of the surface cells of the cornea, called the corneal epithelium, are removed. The surface of the cornea is actually removed or ablated; no flaps are made into the corneal layer. This form of laser eye surgery, like other forms of laser refractive surgery, is a bladeless procedure and, like the other forms, treats near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism.

Some people, due to variations in their eye's anatomy (notably corneas that are too thin for LASIK surgery) may be better candidates for the PRK procedure. These patients typically have a longer recovery time and may need pain medication for a few days. It also takes longer to achieve improved vision although the end results of PRK are very similar to those of LASIK or LASEK surgery. Some eye surgeons feel that PRK surgery, although it is an older technique than LASIK, actually delivers better results with lower incidence of “night blindness” and “halo effects”. The negative to PRK (this was the form of laser eye surgery that I actually experienced) is a significant amount of pain for a day or two and an increased period of time until excellent vision occurred.

Regardless of the type of laser surgery that you and your eye surgeon decide is the best for you, be sure to follow your doctor’s pre- and post-operative orders and return for all scheduled check-ups. You will love having great vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses.

Please click on the form on this page to learn more about PRK and Intralase “Bladeless” LASIK surgery. You will be happy you did.