LASIK and PRK are both types of laser vision correction. Both procedures alter the cornea to make it less reflective, but they do so in different ways.
- LASIK surgery is more common and better for people to get clear vision faster.
- PRK is a better choice for people who are not eligible for LASIK, due to dry eyes or very thin corneas, for example.
- PRK, however, doesn’t leave a flap in your cornea. Incidentally, it’s generally considered to be safer and more effective for a lifetime under most circumstances. Eye injury can aggravate the flap left behind during a LASIK surgery and can cause complications down the line.
- PRK surgery is significantly cheaper because the additional step of flap creation isn’t there.
- Get in touch with Discover Vision Center for a free consultation to understand which one is better for you.
LASIK is the most common form of laser vision correction and has been used for over 15 years. With LASIK, a surgeon will perform an incision in your eye to remove the front layer of tissue and reshape it to correct your vision. The laser then creates a flap in the back of your eye that is sewn shut after healing from its surgery.
In contrast, PRK uses a higher-power beam of light to reshape the cornea without making an incision in the eye. In addition, PRK has fewer side effects than LASIK, which makes it a good option if you experience any discomfort after LASIK surgery or are allergic to some types of lasers (such as epi-LASIK).
What are the differences between LASIK and PRK?
The difference between LASIK and PRK is that LASIK uses a laser, while PRK uses a power tool (microkeratome) to create the flap.
LASIK can be done by an ophthalmologist or a surgeon, whereas PRK requires a cornea specialist. In both cases, the procedure takes about 10 minutes, but in LASIK, it takes about 15 seconds.
PRK is only available for patients who have very thin corneas — those with more than 0.25mm of corneal thickness — and those who have astigmatism.
LASIK, or laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses, is a medical procedure that uses an eye surgeon’s laser to reshape your corneas. PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, is a similar procedure where the surgeon reshapes your corneas with an excimer laser.
The main difference between LASIK and PRK is that LASIK does not use an excimer laser and instead uses a lower-energy gas laser to reshape the cornea.
The main difference between LASIK and PRK is that LASIK uses an excimer laser (also called an excimer laser) to reshape your cornea instead of using a pulsed dye laser (PDL). The excimer laser has a shorter wavelength than PDL, which means it will cause less damage to tissue as it heats up tissue near the surface of your cornea.
This allows the shape of your cornea to be changed more precisely without causing as much damage to nearby tissue as other types of lasers.
Which one is better for me, LASIK or PRK?
So, which is better, LASIK vs PRK?
In LASIK surgery, the surgeon uses a femtosecond laser to heat the front surface of your cornea (epithelium).
This causes tiny damage to the epithelium so that it can be replaced by collagen. When this happens, you won’t see any signs of injury on your cornea because new collagen will grow and form a tight seal over the damaged area.
In PRK surgery, your surgeon uses an excimer laser (an ultra-short wavelength) to cut out layers of tissue from your eyes and then replace them with new collagen. This gives you immediate vision improvement without any pain!
PRK is a type of laser eye surgery that uses a very high-powered beam to reshape the cornea and correct refractive errors. It’s the most commonly performed LASIK procedure, but it can be quite expensive and is only recommended for people with very good vision.
LASIK is more complex than PRK but also more effective at correcting nearsightedness and farsightedness. The laser technology used in LASIK is similar to that used in PRK, so your surgeon can combine both procedures into one if needed.
What about ICL?
ICL, or Implantable Collamer Lens, is an artificial lens that the doctor permanently embeds inside the eye. It can treat nearsightedness and farsightedness but generally carries a higher infection risk than LASIK, as entry to the internal eye is required for this placement.
In ICL surgery, a lens is inserted between your natural lens and the iris. A small incision is made to do this. It’s generally recommended for people aged 21 to 45 who are ineligible for LASIK or PRK.
Final verdict
Generally speaking, LASIK is a more popular choice because there is less discomfort involved, and the patient gains clear vision remarkably faster compared to a PRK surgery. PRK, however, has its own set of benefits and is the first eye refractive eye surgery people had access to.
Both have their own pros and cons, and you should consult with a professional before making up your mind. In terms of cost, PRK costs less than LASIK. Both are permanent and solve the problems of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The best way to determine which one is right for you is to consult.
In contrast, ICL is another option for people who are ineligible for LASIK or PRK for any reason.