LASIK vs. PRK

If you are a patient that is thinking about having your refractive errors surgically corrected, there are is range of treatment options available to you. Two of the most commonly performed refractive surgery treatments are LASIK and PRK eye surgery. These procedures involve the use of an excimer laser, which reshapes the cornea to permanently correct blurry vision that is caused by nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are refractive errors that are caused by an irregularly shaped cornea. Patients that are nearsighted have a cornea that is excessively steep, while patients that are farsighted have a cornea that is too flat. Astigmatism refers to a cornea that is shaped more like a football, rather than a round ball. When the cornea is abnormally shaped, light is unable to properly focus on the retina. This results in out-of-focus vision at near and/or far distances. With laser vision correction procedures such as LASIK and PRK, for our Williston, ND LASIK patients our surgeons re-sculpt the cornea to produce the ideal corneal shape. In this blog post, we review the key differences between the LASIK and PRK procedures.

Candidates

LASIK and PRK surgery is indicated for patients that are at least 18 years of age with nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia. However, a wider range of patients can be treated with PRK than with LASIK. Patients that have less corneal tissue or large pupils are not suitable candidates for LASIK surgery, but may be good candidates for PRK.

Exposure of Underlying Corneal Tissue

The major difference between LASIK and PRK is the manner in which the underlying corneal tissue is exposed during surgery. In PRK surgery, a sterile brush is used to remove the epithelial layer, the outermost part of the cornea. Once the epithelial cells are removed, an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea. After surgery, the epithelial layer will naturally grow back.

During LASIK surgery, a three-sided flap is created in the epithelium and stroma. Once the flap is open, the surgeon can reshape the cornea. After surgery, the flap is closed and will naturally re-seal during recovery.

Recovery

LASIK surgery is associated with less pain and a faster healing period, which is why it is more popular than PRK surgery. Most pain is gone and vision is significantly improved within 12 to 24 hours of LASIK surgery. PRK patients generally experience more discomfort than LASIK patients, as improved vision takes a few more days to take effect. In addition, patients must wear special contact lenses to promote healing.

LASIK and PRK surgery offer similar visual results once the patient gets through the recovery phase. Most of our Williston, ND laser eye surgery patients experience 20/20 vision or better after LASIK and PRK surgery. In addition, we offer wavefront laser vision correction technology so patients can undergo custom LASIK or custom PRK at our practice. To find out if you are a good candidate for refractive surgery, contact Black Hills Regional Eye Institute today for a LASIK and PRK screening. Our experienced team will evaluate your vision and determine if you are an appropriate candidate for surgery.