LASIK vs. PRK: Which Laser Eye Surgery Is Right For You?
Laser eye surgery has revolutionized the way people perceive and treat vision problems . With two of the most popular treatments – LASIK and PRK – being readily available, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. Both procedures use lasers to reshape the cornea to improve vision, but they differ in how they achieve that goal. LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, and it is the most common type of laser eye surgery. During a LASIK procedure, a thin flap is created on the surface of the cornea using either a mechanical device or a laser. The flap is then folded back so that an excimer laser can be used to reshape the underlying tissue. Once this process is complete, the flap is replaced and allowed to heal naturally over time. PRK stands for Photorefractive Keratectomy and it was actually developed before LASIK. With PRK, no flap is created on the surface of the cornea; instead, an excimer laser is used to directly reshape its outer layer (epitheliu...