The groundwork for laser eye surgery dates back to the 1950s, even before the first laser was demonstrated at the start of the next decade. The first laser eye surgery was a photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) procedure performed in 1988. A year later, the first laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery followed.
Since then, both PRK and LASIK have been restoring sharp vision for millions of patients.
At Advanced Lasik in the Midtown East, New York City, and Long Beach, and Duarte, California, ophthalmologist Randa Garrana, MD, and our expert team offer both, along with other refractive procedures to cover the widest range of eyesight improvements available today.
Once you make the decision to move forward with laser eye surgery, the first question you’ll face will be, “which eye surgery is right for me?” Let’s take a closer look at the similarities and differences between PRK and LASIK, including the best surgical applications for each.
Both PRK and LASIK improve the focusing power of your eye by modifying the cornea, the collection of five transparent layers at the front of your eye that bend about 70% of the light that enters your eye, with the remaining 30% of focusing done by your eye’s natural lens.
In PRK surgery, the first step is the removal of the top corneal layer, called the epithelium. Dr. Garrana then uses a laser to reshape the remaining corneal layers, adjusting the curvature of the cornea to bring your vision into focus. The epithelium layer naturally regenerates within a few days of your procedure.
LASIK surgery starts with the creation of a flap that involves the epithelium and the next two layers. Laser reshaping takes place on the remaining two layers before Dr. Garrana moves the flap back to its original position. The corneal flap repairs itself over the next few months.
Both surgeries can treat astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness.
The primary difference between PRK and LASIK is recovery time. While your final results will be similar with each procedure, PRK takes longer to achieve these results. You can expect optimal vision correction in about a month, though you’ll notice improvement within days.
LASIK surgery provides you with full vision correction usually within 48 hours of your procedure. The trade-off for these fast results is the potential for complication with the more invasive corneal flap method.
With exertion or vigorous activity, the flap may shift before it’s fully healed. You’ll need additional surgery should this occur.
Because of this, PRK is generally regarded as a slightly safer option. Dr. Garrana also offers a procedure called fortified LASIK, which is a version of flap surgery that adds stability and strength to corneal tissue.
Dr. Garrana evaluates each patient fully before recommending the best options for laser vision correction. Generally, more patients can choose PRK compared to LASIK.
PRK surgery is typically recommended for patients with conditions like:
LASIK may be a better option when these factors are important:
Ready to explore your vision correction surgery options? Contact Advanced Lasik to book a consultation with Dr. Garrana today. We have an East Coast office in Midtown East, New York City, and two West Coast offices in Duarte and Long Beach, California.
