LASIK vs PRK

Here at Dello Russo, we recommend LASIK surgery for most of our patients. However, certain people may not qualify for LASIK. If LASIK is not for you, but you still want surgery to correct your vision, there are other options. PRK, or Photorefractive Keratectomy, is our most popular runner-up to LASIK for corrective surgery. Here, we will compare and contrast LASIK vs PRK.

Weighing Your Procedure Options: LASIK vs PRK

When it comes to surgically correcting your vision, it’s essential to keep in mind that you do have some options. If you’ve already consulted with your doctor, you may be trying to select the best procedure for you and your eyes. In many cases, that decision comes down to PRK vs LASIK. Before you make your final decision, you’ll want to know more about the difference between LASIK and PRK procedures and why different eyes may require different corrective surgeries.

How Are LASIK and PRK Procedures Alike?

When you begin researching PRK surgery vs LASIK, it’s helpful to understand that both LASIK and PRK procedures are laser surgeries. They’re both designed to improve your vision by making alterations to the eye’s corneal tissue to correct the curvature of your eye. Both procedures can address astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Whether you choose a LASIK or PRK procedure, your results will be similar. Whether you opt for PRK vs LASIK, you can expect a period of recovery time after both procedures. The procedures are considered outpatient surgeries, and you can go home immediately afterward.

The procedures themselves take very little time and can lead to dramatic vision improvements. So, why might you choose PRK surgery vs LASIK? If you are interested in laser vision correction, please peruse the pages below to learn more about the available services.

The Differences Between LASIK and PRK

Now that we know how the two procedures are similar let’s examine the differences between LASIK and PRK surgery. When it comes to LASIK vs PRK, you’ll see the most significant difference at the very beginning of the procedure. In a LASIK procedure, your doctor will use a laser to create a thin flap on the cornea. This flap can then be lifted, and your doctor will reshape your corneal tissue for better vision. After the procedure, your doctor will close the flap again. With a PRK procedure, this first step looks a little different. Rather than creating a flap, a top piece of corneal tissue is simply removed. This gives your doctor the same access to your eye tissue for the corrective procedure. Afterward, the tissue that has been removed is not replaced, and the eye is left to heal on its own.

LASIK vs PRK: Other Differences

Because of the differences in how your tissue is accessed between PRK eye surgery vs LASIK, there’s also a corresponding difference in the expected healing time. With the LASIK procedure, the flap of corneal tissue is replaced, and the eye doesn’t have to do quite as much to recover. This means you can expect your overall healing time to be shorter. With the PRK procedure, corneal tissue is removed entirely, so the healing process will involve generating a greater amount of new cells. This does mean there’s a longer recovery timeline for your eyes, but it’s still quite manageable. Additionally, since not everyone is a LASIK candidate but could be a PRK candidate, PRK could allow for more extensive eye treatment.

In addition to the healing time, there are differences between PRK vs LASIK regarding what to expect in terms of potential side effects and risks. While both procedures have a very low incidence of complications, the PRK procedure has a slightly higher risk of post-procedure complications during healing. This is simply because the healing is more extensive with PRK surgery vs LASIK. LASIK patients also tend to report less pain during the healing period because there is less tissue to heal. That said, PRK may be a better choice for some people at a higher risk of damaging their corneal flap before it’s fully healed.

LASIK vs PRK: Which Procedure is Right for You?

You may wonder which procedure is better as you learn more about PRK vs LASIK. The truth is that there’s not a winner in the LASIK vs PRK debate. They are both tried and true, great options for surgically correcting a vision deficiency. Each patient will find that when it comes to PRK surgery vs LASIK, there is a procedure better suited to their unique eyes, which a skilled eye surgeon can determine. Every patient and eye is different, which is why it’s so important to find an eye surgeon who takes every detail into account before helping you decide between PRK and LASIK. To find out which procedure is suitable for you, take the time to talk with your eye doctor about your vision goals, lifestyle, and needs. After taking a closer look at your eyes and considering all of the information you provide, your eye surgeon will be able to determine which procedure will suit you best.

PRK vs Lasik infographic

Ready for Your Free Consultation to Determine Whether LASIK or PRK is a Good Option for You?

You may learn that PRK and LASIK are options for you, in which case you should discuss healing times, potential risks, and side effects to choose the most promising option for your vision. You should also consider PRK cost vs LASIK cost. You can also explore our website, looking through both the PRK FAQs and LASIK FAQs to help you fully understand the procedures, preparation, and recovery required. If you’re ready to be done with glasses and contacts and improve your vision, what are you waiting for? Call us today to help you choose the procedure that best suits your vision goals.

Now that you know the difference between LASIK and PRK surgery, you’re ready to find an experienced eye surgeon to help you make your final decision. If you’re looking for a highly qualified doctor to help you choose between PRK eye surgery and LASIK, schedule a consultation with one of the World-Class Eye Surgeons at Dello Russo Laser Vision today. We can help you identify your needs to achieve the vision correction you’ve always wanted. With the right information and guidance, deciding between LASIK and PRK doesn’t have to be complicated. We look forward to helping you choose the best corrective eye surgery for you.