What Kind of Laser Eye Surgery Is Right for Me?
LASIK
More people get LASIK than any other kind of laser eye surgery. 98.5% of patients who undergo LASIK for myopia and myopic astigmatism report satisfaction with their results.
During LASIK, an ophthalmologist uses a laser or cutting blade to create a small flap on the outside of your cornea. They then reshape the corneal stroma with a precise laser and reposition the flap so it can heal into place.
LASIK is popular because it offers faster recovery times than other types of laser eye surgery. Most patients can enjoy clear vision within 24 hours and heal completely in less than 3 months.
PRK
Patients with corneas that are too thin for LASIK may be strong candidates for PRK. PRK begins by using a brush, blade, laser, or alcohol solution to remove the outside of the cornea. The ophthalmologist then reshapes the corneal stroma and the cornea’s surface slowly regenerates.
Since PRK requires the outside of the cornea to grow back, the average recovery time for this type of surgery is longer than for LASIK. Clear vision normally returns within 5 days, and full recovery can take up to 6 months. However, PRK is still effective in the vast majority of cases. Some research suggests that patient satisfaction for PRK is even higher than it is for LASIK.
