PRK and LASIK laser eye surgery are both laser eye surgeries that are used to correct something wrong with your eye sight. Although both eye surgeries essentially do the same thing there are many differences between the two. You need to know their vast differences to choose the correct laser eye surgery for yourself.
What is Laser Eye Surgery?
Laser is a medical procedure that is done by an eye surgeon. This kind of procedure is often used so someone doesn’t have to wear glasses or contact lenses. Laser eye surgery reshapes your cornea, and the front part of your eye. This makes your eye refocus, hopefully giving you vision that is less dependant on glasses or contact lenses. There are currently two very popular laser eye surgery procedures: LASIK (Laser-assisted in Sitsu keratomileusis) and PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy).
What is PRK Laser Eye Surgery?
PRK is the second most popular laser eye surgery available. This surgery reshapes the cornea of your eye with the help of an Excimer laser. In this procedure, the surgeon will remove the outer most layer of the cornea, and then the surgery is preformed on the tissue underneath. The laser used in this procedure (Excimer) is a small ultra-violet laser light. This laser is cool to the touch, and reshapes the cornea with accuracy. When you reshape the cornea you should hopefully have better vision. Most patients that come out of PRK surgery don’t have 20/20 vision. This is however, a good way to regain eye sight that has been lost because of age or problems with your cornea.
What is LASIK Eye Surgery?
The LASIK eye surgery procedure is the first most popular laser eye surgery available. This procedure also reshapes your cornea with the help of the laser you and your surgeon choose. There are exactly two lasers that can be used with LASIK surgery which are both labeled LASIK A and LASIK B. In this procedure the thin outer layer of the cornea is lightly lifted up, and the surgery is performed on both parts of the tissue of the cornea. Most people who come out of LASIK surgery don’t have 20/20 vision, because this surgery is only supposed to help you be able to see clearer without a very strong prescription for glasses or contacts.
What is the Main Difference between PRK and LASIK?
The main difference between LASIK and PRK eye surgery is how the cornea is re-shaped. When you have LASIK surgery they create a small flap with the outside layer of your cornea, and do the procedure on that tissue as well as the tissue underneath the small flap. In PRK laser eye surgery a thin layer of cornea is scraped away and the procedure is done on the tissue underneath that thin layer of cornea.
What Are the Risks of LASIK?
Like any surgery a laser eye surgery has its own unique list of risks. This list of risks that are involved with LASIK eye surgery should help you decide which type of procedure you want done on your eyes. Risks include:
- Infection
- Refractive Problems
- Night Glare
- Problems or infections in the cornea
- Pain
- Protective growth on your cornea flap
- Prolonged healing process
- The need for reading glasses or bifocals on people over the age of forty
What are the Risks of PRK?
The PRK laser eye surgery has its own set of risks that come along with it. No surgery especially on something as delicate as your eye is 100% effective or safe. Risks of PRK eye surgery include:
- Infection
- Glare
- Seeing Halos
- Dry Eyes
- Seeing Badly in Dim Light or at Night
- Long time Halos around images
How do you Decide What Laser Eye Surgery is Right For You?
Once you have decided with your doctor that your sight can be repaired with laser eye surgery you have to discuss which surgery is the right one for you. First you need to discuss the risks and benefits of each surgery with you eye doctor and the surgeon performing the procedure. They are the expert, and they know what they’re doing. Next, you should ask the advice of your eye doctor. The doctor can tell you which surgery h or she thinks is best based on your medical history. Remember; also take time with your decision. Unless you need an eye surgery done right away it is a good idea to sit and think about each surgery option. Don’t rush the decision, this is your health and you need to not be pressured into making a decision too early. Some facts to help make your decision are listed below:
The LASIK eye surgery is the procedure with the most to date technology with the PRK procedure just a year or two behind. Truthful both surgeries should do the same job, but the LASIK surgery has a better success rate.
- The PRK surgery is a cheaper option, and some insurance won’t pay for LASIK.
- LASIK has a few long-term side-effects that could damage the health of someone with diabetes or heart problems.
- PRK also has long-term side effects such as not being able to see well in dim lighting or the dark. This could be a problem for people who must drive very late at night or early in the morning.
Hopefully you can make the correct decision about your eye surgery. Both LASIK and PRK surgeries are FDA approved, and almost any eye surgeon can perform at least one of the procedures. Both surgeries will also hopefully help you lose some of the dependence for thick glasses or contact lenses.