LASIK is not an uncommon term to us. You should have heard the way it can give us a perfect vision. It is interesting to note that very few people have heard of this term Photorefractive Keratectomy, also known as PRK. PRK is also a very well-practiced vision correction sugery that has been around for more than 20 years.
So, we will compare PRK vs LASIK. We will look at the various similiarities and the differences. At the end, you will need to find out which procedure is suitable for your eye surgery. This article will help you gain the good knowledge so that you can converse with the eye surgeon more intelligently.
The common traits of PRK and LASIK:
1) There is no pain midst the whole surgery
2) Both need eye medication for a few days after the surgery
3) Both need a few months of recovery from the surgery
4) Both are used to treat myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism
The interesting thing is that two of them have almost the identitial results in getting the perfect vision. Many people have seen good vision with either PRK or LASIK.
However, The interesting thing is that both have unique procedures, but achieves the identital results.
So, what are the differences? In short, there are a few main differences:
1) Patients with certain corneal conditions or corneal scars have to consider PRK, not LASIK
2) You need to wear a lens "bandage" for a few days
3) LASIK has an additional step which involves the creation of a flap
4) PRK does not need to create a flap, but go to the cornea's inner layers by taking out the thin outer layer of the cornea
5) PRK tends to have longer healing process than LASIK
In short, both procedures are safe, despite the differences. If you want to know which procedure is better for yourself, it is best to consult a good eye surgeon who is able to examine your eyes to decide which is suitable for you. This article should equip you with some knowledge so that you are able to speak with an eye surgeon better.