PRK vs. LASIK

As the two most widely used surgical techniques for correcting vision, both PRK and LASIK have advantages and disadvantages.

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FOR WHO?

For those who have severe myopia, simple or mixed astigmatism, hyperopia or astigmatism and hypermetropia, LASIK is the ideal procedure. By creating a small flap in your cornea and peeling it back, the surgeon will reshape it so that it improves the way light refracts through your eye. This will, in turn, improve your vision, and reduce blurred vision. During the procedure, you will undergo a local anesthetic, and an eyelid holder will be placed on your eye to prevent blinking.

WHEN USED?
LASIK AND PRK

One of the main advantages of LASIK is that it has a fast recovery period of one to two days. Some patients experience the feeling that a foreign body is in their eye during the recovery period. LASIK is typically more expensive than PRK and comes with a small, but manageable, risk of infection.

PRK can typically be used to repair most sight defects. Much like LASIK, it is performed under a local anesthetic. Throughout your PRK procedure, the surgeon will use a laser to reshape your cornea. Unlike LASIK, the laser targets the cornea surface rather than under the cornea itself. In addition to this, PRK is less expensive than LASIK, and there are zero operative risks.

PRK has a longer recovery period than LASIK. To help you recover, the surgeon will provide you with a contact lens bandage. For the first few weeks, you will need to wear contacts or glasses while your eye adjusts to your newly shaped cornea. The recovery period for patients in Boulder and Denver, CO, with regard to PRK, is more painful than for LASIK.