What is the Difference Between PRK and LASIK?

Wearing glasses and contact lenses can become an everyday hassle. At Virginia Eye Consultants, our surgeons aim to dramatically improve your vision so you can see more clearly all day, everyday. However, there is no one vision correction procedure that is best for everyone.

LASIK surgery is our most popular vision correction procedure, and can be used to treat common refractive errors such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. After creating a corneal flap, your surgeon is able to reshape the cornea to optimize your vision with an all-laser, blade-free technique.

For patients who are not ideal LASIK surgery candidates, PRK (photo refractive keratectomy) offers an effective alternative. With PRK, a laser is used to directly alter the surface of the cornea and can be a better solution for patients who have thin corneas or suffer from conditions such as dry eye. In addition, patients who engage in activities that would have a high risk of damaging a corneal flap often opt for PRK.

Both procedures utilize excimer laser technology for extreme precision and accurate results. During the consultation process, your surgeon will perform an eye examination that will help determine which vision correction procedure is right for you. For more information about vision correction surgery, or to schedule a consultation with one of our surgeons, please contact our office today.