Final Vision

The final visual results achieved by LASIK and PRK are the same, although it takes longer for the eye to heal completely with PRK. You achieve your final vision in PRK in one to three months, whereas with LASIK this typically occurs in two to four weeks.

Questions to Ask Your Surgeon about PRK

•  What results can I expect?
•  How long will the correction last?
•  What about risks and complications?
•  When can I go back to work?
•  Will I need enhancement surgery?
•  If I have dry eye, will it affect my PRK surgery?
•  If I've had previous eye surgeries, am I still a candidate for PRK?
• Can I wear contact lenses after surgery, if necessary?
• Could the surgery cause problems years from now?
• Variations on PRK: LASEK and Epi-LASIK

You may have heard of two other laser procedures-LASEK and epi-LASIK. These procedures are very similar to PRK. The only difference is the technical method by which the surgeon removes the epithelium, the surface layer of clear skin that covers the eye. In PRK, the cells are removed by the laser, an automated brush, or gentle debridement. In LASEK, the cells are removed by loosening them with an alcohol solution. In epi-LASIK, an automated machine is used that peels off the cell layer. The results of PRK, LASEK, and epi-LASIK are identical, as are the risks and recovery time. From a patient's perspective, LASEK and epi-LASIK are indistinguishable from PRK.

LASIK and PRK Statistics: Your Chances for Success