Many may ask,”What is better for my sight problems, photo refractive keratectomy (PRK) or laser-assisted-in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK)?” Although PRK was used before LASIK, LASIK is far more familiar to the general public than its predecessor. This is perhaps due to the fact that LASIK costs less and heals more quickly, allowing a patient to return to their daily lives quicker and with less out-of-pocket expense.
Which Is Right for You?
The answer to whether photo refractive keratectomy or LASIK is the perfect solution to your visual problems cannot be readily answered without a thorough exam. Although both can correct either farsightedness,nearsightedness, and/or astigmatisms, the main difference is in the recovery period. PRK normally takes longer to recover from than LASIK, and the PRK is frequently more painful in the first 48 to 72 hours after surgery. However, LASIK carries the risk of a dislocation of the corneal flap, whereas in PRK doesn’t use a laser or microkeratome as in LASIK to produce the corneal flap. Whether LASIK or PRK will be used by your eye doctor depends on a variety of patient conditions.
What Makes a Patient More Suited for PRK over LASIK?
Whereas the two procedures are near equal over the long term for most patients, the corneal thickness, visual stability, ocular and overall health and those not perfect for LASIK may determine a patient’s viability for photo refractive keratectomy. Some characteristics and risks are prevalent in both surgeries with dry eye being the most frequently reported problem after surgery. Other side-effects may be halo vision, corneal haze and reduced visual clarity in darkness making night driving more dangerous. Dry eye may be treated with prescription eye drops, but the condition may be permanent for some patients and require eye drop treatment two or three times daily, although dry eye is normally less prevalent in PRK patients.
The Vista Eye Difference
Whether you choose photo refractive keratectomy (PRK) or LASIK, the visual care specialist to choose is Vista Eye Specialists. Trusting your vision to just anyone is never a wise choice. Call Vista Eye Specialists today toll free at, 1-888-EYE-JANI (1-888-393-5264). Or, submit a patient contact form online at https://vistaeyeva.com/contact.php.
