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The Difference Between PRK and LASIK

December 15, 2014 | LASIK

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photo48The results of LASIK and PRK are both excellent. Most vision correction surgery patients experience equal outcomes with LASIK or PRK, and six months out, there is little to no variation between the results.

Both PRK and LASIK reshape the cornea to correct common refractive errors. The reason PRK recovery differs from LASIK is due to the procedural technique used for each type of surgery. During LASIK, we create a corneal flap and reshape the cornea beneath. In PRK, there is no flap. Instead, we remove a very thin layer of tissue from surface of the cornea, which then re-grows and heals itself over the course of the next few days. LASIK heals faster because a corneal flap can heal within a couple hours.

For medical reasons, it may not be safe to proceed with LASIK with every patient, and at Gordon Schanzlin New Vision Institute Institute we make very conservative decisions regarding your health. My own daughter chose to undergo PRK because she was not an ideal LASIK candidate – and I performed the surgery! While PRK may present a few minor inconveniences during the first week, most patients focus on the long-term benefits of improved vision and being able to see clearly without relying on glasses or contact lenses.

David J. Schanzlin, M.D.

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