What is the difference between PRK and Lasik?!
Question:
What is the difference between PRK and Lasik?
Additional Details
5 days ago
Thank you lux_louboutin :=) esp. on mentioning 'flap' as i read in some articles on lasik and wonder what this is!
Answers:
Basically the only difference between PRK and LASIK is the approach to get to the cornea to do the ablation for the appropriate correction.
With LASIK, a flap is created, 130-160 microns thick. Once this flap has been created, the laser is able to make the appropriate corrections as determined by preop measurements.
With PRK, there is no flap created. Instead, my surgeon used this little machine that reminded me of the rubber tooth polisher at the dentist (yah, funny, I know) to remove the corneal epithelium only, about 30-50 microns thick. Once that was done, the laser did its thing, a bandage contact lens was placed, and I went home to sleep.
Healing times are quite different between the two. With LASIK, patients typically have greatly improved vision in about 24 hours...much less pain and discomfort, and the cornea is able to heal a lot faster.
With PRK, I had good immediate vision in the office...it got cloudier and a lot more uncomfortable for about 4 days while the epithelium was growing back.
Think of it like this: you get a paper cut = LASIK...a scraped knee = PRK. A paper cut heals faster and is a bit less painful. Scraped knee heals more slowly and hurts more :)