Weighing Your Procedure Options: LASIK vs PRK
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When it comes to surgically correcting your vision, you do have some options. If you’ve already consulted with your doctor, you may be trying to select the procedure that’s best 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 to go with a LASIK or PRK procedure, your end results will be similar.
Whether you opt for PRK vs LASIK, you can expect a period of recovery time after both procedures. However, they’re both considered outpatient procedures and you’ll be able to go home immediately afterwards. The actual procedures take very little time and can lead to dramatic vision improvements. So, why might you choose PRK surgery vs LASIK?
The difference between LASIK and PRK
What is the difference between LASIK and PRK surgery? When it comes to LASIK vs PRK, the biggest difference you’ll see is 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 tissue to allow for better vision. After the procedure has been completed, your doctor will close the flap again.
With a PRK procedure, this first step looks a little different. Rather than creating a flap, this 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.
Of course, 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, that 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 treatment of the eye.
In addition to the healing time, there are differences between PRK vs LASIK when it comes to 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 actually be a better choice for some people who are at a higher risk of damaging their corneal flap before it’s fully healed.
LASIK vs PRK: Which procedure is right for you?
As you’re learning more about PRK vs LASIK, you may find yourself wondering which procedure is better. 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 that is better suited to their unique eyes.
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 vs LASIK. To find out which procedure is right 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 taking all of the information you provide into account, your eye surgeon will be able to determine which procedure will suit you best.
You may learn that both are options for you, in which case you should discuss healing times, potential risks and side effects, and the option that looks most promising for your vision. You should also consider PRK cost vs LASIK cost, too. You can also explore our website, looking through both the PRK FAQs and LASIK FAQs to help you fully understand the procedures, as well as the preparation and recovery required. Ultimately, if you’re ready to be done with glasses and contacts and improve your vision, you should choose the procedure that best suits your vision goals.
Now that you can answer, “What is 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 make your choice between PRK eye surgery vs LASIK? Schedule a consultation with one of the World Class Eye Surgeons at Dello Russo Laser Vision. We can help you identify your needs so you can achieve the vision correction you’ve always wanted. With the right information and guidance, deciding between LASIK vs PRK doesn’t have to be difficult. We look forward to helping you choose the best corrective eye surgery for you.
