More About PRK: The LASIK Alternative
May 19, 2021
The best thing that you can do when looking into surgical corrections for your vision is knowing which corrective eye surgery is right for you. LASIK is the most well-known surgery, but other laser surgeries such as Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) can be just as effective.
What Is the PRK Procedure Like?
During the procedure, the surgeon will first numb the eyes before removing the topmost layer of cells. The surgeon will then use a computer-controlled laser to reshape the cornea by removing small amounts of tissue to create the contours needed for you to see clearly. In a way, it is like making your cornea into a prescription lens. The whole procedure takes about 10 minutes per eye. After the surgery, you can expect to experience soreness and slight burning sensations which fade into light sensitivity and blurred vision as your brain and eyes adjust to the changes.
How Does PRK Differ from LASIK?
PRK and LASIK are similar in a couple of ways. They’re both laser surgeries directed at permanently correcting vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. They both work by utilizing a computer-operated laser to make changes to your cornea to adjust your eyesight. There is, however, one major difference.
PRK changes the shape of the cornea by removing the surface layer of cells, whereas LASIK only creates a small flap on the surface. This means that the recovery time for LASIK can be shorter than for PRK. The LASIK recovery time can take a few days, while the PRK recovery time can take between two to four weeks for the blurriness and light sensitivity to completely fade.
What Are the Benefits of PRK?
While PRK may have a substantially longer recovery time, there are plenty of reasons why you should consider it. For one, PRK is known to have far fewer risks than LASIK. With LASIK, the flap created remains in your eye, which can invite problems if your eyes were to become injured. Because PRK instead removes the surface cells, it allows new cells to grow in their place, which completely avoids that issue.
Corrective Eye Surgery in Arlington, VA
PRK is just as effective an option as LASIK, and for some people, PRK may be a better option for their unique lifestyle or recovery timeline. If you are curious about whether or not you are eligible for either of these laser vision correction procedures, please schedule an appointment for a consultation with Anh Nguyen Ophthalmology to see what can be done for your vision. Start the conversation today by calling 703-912-0504 or contacting us online.
