What Is the Difference Between PRK and LASIK?

Many patients who visit our practice want to significantly reduce or eliminate the need for corrective eyewear. While LASIK tends to be the most popular vision correction surgery, it is certainly not the only effective option. In fact, for some patients, LASIK alternatives such as PRK may be better suited for their individual needs. PRK is typically reserved for patients who have thin corneas, while LASIK is often recommended for those with corneas that have the desired thickness. Our experienced and board-certified ophthalmologists Dr. Michael Sumsion and Dr. Sean Sumsion are highly trained in eye care treatments, specifically iLASIK, an advanced all-laser LASIK system. Both surgeons are exceptional at determining who is and who is not an ideal candidate for LASIK, and may recommend PRK if it is deemed to be more suitable. Our ophthalmologists agree that both LASIK and PRK are excellent treatments that can greatly improve vision for our patients.

PRK, more formally called photorefractive keratectomy, is an FDA-approved vision correction procedure that actually has a longer history of success than LASIK. Since 1995, ophthalmologists have been using PRK to reshape the cornea and help patients see with dramatically increased clarity. In addition, PRK has been used by many of our patients who are not ideal candidates for LASIK surgery due to the thinness of their corneas. Before the innovative and revolutionary technology of LASIK became available, PRK was considered to be the standard for improving and revitialiving vision with laser surgery among patients. While LASIK is now considered the most popular and effective method of repairing vision, PRK still remains a suitable and viable option for many patients. This flapless laser eye correction surgery can effectively treat disruptive vision conditions such as astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness. The primary difference between PRK and LASIK is that the former does not require the creation of a cornea flap, while the latter does.

LASIK surgery, or Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, can also dramatically improve your vision, and works by creating a corneal flap, which allows the surgeon to reshape the cornea beneath. As a result, good candidates for this procedure must have a cornea with adequate thickness to create the flap. Many of our patients who have undergone LASIK now enjoy 20/20 vision. LASIK is typically the first option that our ophthalmologists present to our patients, as it is a relatively short procedure, lasting about 25 minutes, and generally produces ideal results with little to no pain. LASIK is generally considered to be a safe procedure by eye doctors and surgeons around the world. The success rate of LASIK is around 90% for patients who undergo the surgery, with results becoming evident within days and gradually improving over time. Recovery from the procedure will typically involve temporary blurriness that usually dissipates within a day, enabling patients to return to their regular activities.

During the consultation process, you will undergo an eye exam to determine the health of your eye, the thickness of the cornea, and discover which method of vision correction surgery can best achieve optimal results. If you would like to learn more about PRK or LASIK surgery, or would like to schedule a consultation, please contact us today.

Editor’s note: The original version of this post was published on January 12, 2016.