Question:
How Do PRK and Other Flap Procedures Compare?
PRK vs. Flap Procedures
How does PRK compare to other flap procedures, such as LASIK?
If your corneas are too thin and you are not eligible for LASIK, PRK may be for you. Both procedures are fairly short. During LASIK one may feel a bit of pressure or a fuzziness of vision while the corneal flap is created. PRK does not make a corneal flap.
LASIK is a more complicated process thanks to the need of a corneal flap. PRK and LASIK complication percentages are similar, but the complications may be more severe in PRK.
With LASIK you will have visual recovery sooner (like that day) than with PRK (may take three days or longer) and would most likely not need pain medications when compared to that of PRK.
LASIK patients must wear a plastic shield at night for the first 10 days. PRK patients have a soft bandage contact lens that is worn for five to 10 days after surgery. This is treated daily with antibiotics and eye drops. When the bandage is removed a topical cortisone is used on the area four times a day for one month, then tapered off in the following months.
Because surgeries such as LASIK cut a corneal flap during the procedure, LASIK then runs the risk of complications directly related to the flap itself. Things such as: an incomplete flap, a flap that comes off, or a flap that has holes in it. PRK does not use the flap method, therefore will not have these complications.
LASIK Frequently Asked Questions
I have thin corneas and have been turned down for LASIK, what can I do?
I've heard about corneal flaps, can LASEK eliminate loose corneal flaps?
How does LASEK help my astigmatism?
My doctor just told me I should have LASEK, do I consent?
How does LASEK work as opposed to LASIK?
I'm a pilot, can I have LASEK?
How long before I see results with LASEK?
Can my doctor use Wavefront technology in my LASEK procedure?
What questions should I ask my LASIK surgeon?
I saw a LASIK surgeon advertised in a newspaper, should I call the office?
If I trust my eye doctor but don't like microkeratome lasers, do I get a second opinion?
If a surgeon recommends an intraocular lens, should I have the procedure?
Do I need a sports vision specialist as my LASIK doctor?
How do I know if my surgeon tells me realistic results?
Should I choose a LASIK surgeon who treats celebrities?
What do I need to know about laser safety when choosing a LASIK surgeon?
How often should I have my eyes examined?
Can diabetes affect my vision?
What advice do ophthalmologists have for me so I can avoid laser surgery problems?
Do ophthalmologists recommend one custom LASIK procedure over another?
Do I need an ophthalmologist who is board certified?
Why do I have to have an ophthalmologist examine my eye if an optometrist does it?
Should a licensed medical doctor perform my eye surgery?
Should I trust an optometrist who claims to perform surgeries with a laser or scalpel?
I'm over 40, what eye surgery options do I have?
I've heard that CK sacrifices distance vision in one eye, is this true?
I've heard that vision correction from CK is temporary, is this true?
Why do I have to wear contact lenses if I'm having CK?
Should I be able to read fine print perfectly after CK?
Is a changing eye prescription a problem with CK?
Is eye tracking effective in laser vision correction?
I don't like eye dilation, can I choose a vision correction system with no dilation?
What alternatives do I have to laser eye surgery?
If my eyeglass prescription is constantly changing, can I still have laser eye surgery?
If I have to have enhancements or vision correction, is that a bad thing?
What do I do before having laser surgery?
What do I do if I want to have laser surgery on just one eye?
Should I choose a LASIK surgeon based on what I can afford?
Will my employer pay for LASIK?
What other LASIK financing might my employer offer?
Should I take out an interest-free loan from a LASIK doctor?
What kind of credit rating should I have for LASIK financing?
Is my credit union a good place to apply for LASIK financing?
Will my insurance absolutely not cover LASIK?
What are the risks of LASIK surgery?
I have dry eyes, can I still have LASIK?
What will happen during my LASIK eye surgery?
Can my child or teenager have LASIK vision correction?
What can I expect after I have LASIK surgery?
What treatments are available for presbyopia?
Can the Crystalens surgery help treat my presbyopia?
What types of presbyopia surgery are there?
How can I tell if I have presbyopia?
Will the "monovision" treatment help me?
How much improvement can I expect from presbyopia surgery?
What are my options for refractive eye surgery?
What do I need to know before choosing refractive eye surgery?
I have dry eyes. Can I still have refractive surgery?
What are the alternatives to refractive surgery?
What questions should I ask my refractive surgeon?
What can I expect after I have refractive eye surgery?
What does refractive surgery cost?
What will happen before my PRK surgery?
What can I expect during PRK surgery?
What differences are there between PRK and LASIK?
How does PRK eye surgery work?
What should I expect after PRK surgery?
What can I expect after epi-LASIK surgery?
What are the possible complications of epi-LASIK?
Can epi-LASIK help me correct my vision while enjoying an active lifestyle?
How does blade-free LASIK work?
What are the differences between standard and blade-free LASIK?
What are the benefits of Intralase?
Am I a candidate for blade-free LASIK?
What equipment is used in Intralase?
Is blade-free LASIK more precise?
Will I have to pay more for blade-free LASIK?
Why should I consider custom LASIK?
Can I benefit from custom LASIK?
What will happen before my custom LASIK surgery?
What will happen after my custom LASIK surgery?
What resources should I utilize when looking for an experienced LASIK surgeon?
Are the types of lasers used in my doctor's office that important?
Why is follow-up with the surgeon important after surgery?
Why should I understand what happens at my surgical consultation?
How can I shop around to find the best LASIK surgeon for me?
Why is conductive keratoplasty (CK) not an appropriate procedure for those with myopia?
Why is CK more expensive in the long run?
What is Lighttouch Technology?
Why Does Custom LASIK Offer Less Risk and Better Vision?
Why Does Custom LASIK Elminate Halos?
How Does Custom LASIK Eliminate Higher Order Aberrations?
Why is Epi-LASIK Appropriate For Those With Low Myopia?
Does Epi-LASIK Involve Corneal Flaps?
Is Epi-LASIK going to be the next big thing?
Is Recovery Time Faster With Epi-LASIK Compared to Other Laser Eye Surgeries?
What is the Difference Between Epi-LASIK and PRK?
How Can LASIK Be Cost Effective?
What Can a Discount Vision Plan Offer Me For LASIK?
How Can a Cafeteria Health Plan Pay For LASIK?
What Are Some Payment Options for LASIK
How Can I Save My Tax Refunds to Use for LASIK?
Why Are My Eyes Dry After LASIK?
What Are Some Complications of LASIK?
What Are The Two Types of Contraindications With LASIK?
How Should I Prepare for LASIK?
What Should I Know Before Surgery?
Are You Ready for Laser Eye Surgery?
Why is Refractive Stability Important?
What Can I Expect After Laser Eye Surgery?
When is Laser Eye Surgery not recommended?
What are the differences between LASIK and LASEK?
Why Can Alcohol be a Disadvantage to LASEK?
Does LASEK Have a Greater Risk of Complications?
When is LASEK the Right Choice?
Is Presbyopia a Sign of Aging?
Are Intraocular Lenses Suitable for Those With Presbyopia?
Are Intraocular Lenses Better Than Laser Surgery For Presbyopia?
Why is CK Beneficial for Presbyopia?
Why is PRK suitable for those with active careers or lifestyles?
How Do PRK and Other Flap Procedures Compare?
How Does the Excimer Laser Work for PRK?
What Should I Limit Myself To After PRK?
What is An Enhancement Surgery After PRK?
What are the types of refractive surgery?
What Risk Do I Take of Losing My Best Corrected Vision?
How Do I Prepare for Refractive Surgery?
Where are Some Places to Start Looking for an Ophthalmologist?
What is the American College of Surgeons?
How Should I Check my Surgeon's Credentials?
What are the Main Types of Eye Specialists?
What Questions Should I Ask When Screening Potential Ophthalmologists?
What is My Risk of Complications from Intralase?
Does Intralase Cause Photophobia as a Complication?
Is the Intralase Procedure for Me?
Can Intralase Cause Hemorrhages?
What is Intralase with Custom LASIK?
What are Some Restrictions I Must Follow After Intralase?
What are Some Things I Should Ask My Intralase Surgeon?
How do PRK, Epi-LASIK and Intralase Differ?
How Has Intralase Improved LASIK?
What are the benefits of LASIK surgery?
Can vision correction surgery help me improve my confidence?
Can everyone benefit from LASIK?
What are the long term LASIK results?
Are there any interesting statistics available for LASIK surgery
What should I look for when evaluating LASIK success rate statistics?
Can I have LASIK if I have astigmatism?
Are there advantage to LASIK surgery without the use of a blade?
Is blade free LASIK safer than traditional LASIK?
How does blade free LASIK surgery differ from traditional LASIK?
Can military pilots undergo LASIK surgery?
Can all laser LASIK technology be used in cornea transplants?
How do I know if blade free LASIK is right for me?
Is blade free LASIK surgery safer than traditional LASIK?
Is the flap created during all laser LASIK really more precise?
How do I choose a LASIK surgeon?
What types of questions should I ask my laser eye surgeon?
Are there any questions related to price which I should ask before choosing a LASIK doctor.
How important is it to trust your eye surgeon?
Should I go to the same LASIK surgeon who operated on my friend?
How do I research a LASIK doctor?
How do I compare LASIK eye surgeons?
How do I know which surgeons are the best LASIK surgeons?
What are the advantages of wavefront LASIK?
How well does wavefront laser eye surgery work?
How do I selecting a wavefront laser vision correction surgeon?
Where can I find a custom wavefront LASIK surgeon?
What types of equipment are approved for use in custom LASIK surgery?
Why is custom laser eye surgery more expensive than traditional LASIK surgery?
What is LASIK wavefront Technology?
Am I a good candidate for LASEK?
How do I know if my eye is not healing properly after LASEK eye surgery?
What is the recovery period like for LASEK eye surgery?
What is the difference between LASIK and LASEK?
What are the advantages of LASEK surgery?
What are the disadvantages of LASEK surgery?
What are the side effects of LASEK surgery?
How do I prepare for LASEK surgery?
What should I consider in evaluating LASIK cost?
What is the average cost of LASIK eye surgery?
What should I consider when comparing the costs of laser eye surgery?
Will my insurance company cover LASIK surgery?
Are there any hidden costs associated with laser eye surgery?
How much does LASIK eye surgery cost?
What are the advantages of PRK laser eye surgery?
What exactly is LASIK surgery?
What happens during LASIK eye surgery?
How can I learn more about laser eye surgery?
What LASIK information should I consider before undergoing a particular procedure?
Where can I find unbiased LASIK eye surgery information?
What types of LASIK procedures are available?
How do I prepare for laser eye surgery?
What are some potential LASIK complications?
What do I need to know about LASIK Risks?
How can I minimize my risk of laser eye surgery complications?
How do I avoid problems with LASIK?
What will happen if there are problems after my LASIK surgery?
What are some common laser eye surgery problems?
Can I have LASIK surgery if I have an autoimmune disease?
When are LASIK eye surgery risks too high?
What LASIK advice should I follow for a proper recovery?
What LASIK information do I need about after the Procedure?
Are there any restrictions after laser eye surgery?
How long is the estimated recovery time for LASIK surgery?
Do I have to attend all LASIK post op visits?
How will my vision be checked after LASIK surgery?
How will I know if there are problems after my LASIK surgery?
What can I expect immediately after LASIK surgery?
How long does it take to recover from LASIK surgery?
What types of classes do ophthalmology students take?
What should I look for when choosing an ophthalmologist?
What should I do in the event of an eye injury?
What are some common eye disorders?
When is eye surgery necessary?
What are some common eye diseases?
When is PRK preferred over other types of laser vision correction surgery?
What are the advantages of PRK eye surgery?
