When you are looking to have your vision corrected there are many options available to you. You can choose from corrective lenses, contacts or even laser surgeries designed to improve your vision immensely. In recent years, laser eye procedures have become more popular as more and more individuals learn of the many benefits attainable through these procedures. The two main types of laser surgeries designed to improve vision are Lasik and PRK. Both of these surgeries deliver comparable results, but the procedures are not all that similar. So what are the differences between Lasik and PRK?
Lasik VS. PRK
Lasik was the first laser eye procedure invented to offer optimal results. However, not everyone is a candidate for the Lasik procedure. To make laser eye surgery available to everyone, the PRK laser eye procedure was developed as an alternative. Both eye procedures offer similar results and vision improvements.
What Is The Lasik Procedure?
This surgical procedure involves creating a flap in your cornea. This is the cornerstone of the Lasik procedure, but it is not a part of the PRK procedure at all. Lasik eye surgery is designed to create a variety of eye impairments including farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatisms. This surgery is designed to completely alter the shape of your eye by the use of the flap on the middle of the cornea. The flap is folded and the layers of your cornea are altered by a laser. This procedure allows for optimal results.
What Is The PRK Procedure?
PRK is also a surgical procedure that reshapes your eye, but it is not done through the use of a flap on your cornea. It is also used to address issues of farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatisms, but it does so with an alternate procedure. Since no flap is made, this procedure simply involves removing the most outer layer of your cornea altogether. This then enables your cornea to be reshaped. However, this procedure is slightly more invasive and requires more healing time.
What Main Differences Can Be Expected?
Lasik surgery is the ideal option because it is much simpler. However, PRK is an alternate approach that requires more recovery time and an extended period of time before results are fully realized. The PRK surgical procedure requires the outer most layer of the cornea to grow back before healing is completed. These cells takes days to grow back and this can result in itchy, red and irritated eyes.
