What is PRK?
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) is a refractive surgical procedure. A laser is used to address eyesight difficulties induced by refractive defects in this type of treatment. When a person's eye doesn't really refract (curve) light appropriately, they have a refractive aberration. Your ophthalmologist will use a laser to alter the structure of your cornea during PRK.
The manner light rays are concentrated on the retina is improved as a result of this. Myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), as well as astigmatism are all treated with PRK. The purpose of photorefractive keratectomy is to improve your eyesight by correcting your refractive defect. It's possible that PRK will eliminate the need for spectacles or contact lenses. It might potentially enable you to do tasks without them in some situations.

Benefits of PRK
•    Nearsightedness can be effectively corrected using PRK. One year following surgery, over 90% of PRK patients have 20/20 vision without corrective lenses. Over 95% have a 20/40 or greater.
•    Because PRK disturbs fewer corneal tissue than LASIK, it may be advantageous to LASIK under certain individuals with weaker corneas or cornea surface irregularities.
•    PRK is a less complicated procedure than LASIK and uses the same cutting-edge laser treatment technology. As a result, some corrective doctors’ favor PRK over LASIK.

Downfalls of PRK
A photorefractive keratectomy has the same dangers as any other surgery. Following the treatment, you may experience:
•    Your cornea has scarring.
•    Corneal haze is a condensation on the surface of your cornea.
•    An infestation.
•    When you're near illumination, particularly at night, you'll notice a dazzle and halo.
•    Itching, inflammation, and/or dampness of the eyes.
•    Light hypersensitivity.
•    Sight is blurry for some time.

What is Lasik?
LASIK eye surgery is the most well-known and widely used laser corrective surgery for sight correction. LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a procedure that can be used instead of spectacles or contact lenses. A unique form of slicing laser is employed during LASIK surgery to accurately alter the structure of the dome-shaped transparent material in the front of your eye (cornea) in order to restore eyesight.
The cornea curves (refracts) light accurately onto the retina at the rear of the eye in pupils with perfect eyesight. The light is bent improperly in nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), as well as astigmatism, culminating in impaired sight.

Benefits of Lasik
For the ordinary eyeglass wearer, LASIK surgery has numerous advantages.
•    According to studies, around 95 percent of LASIK patients attain uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of at least 20/40 and 85 percent obtain 20/20 vision or greater. One outpatient surgery can provide patients with significantly improved vision.
•    LASIK outcomes are intended to be permanent after a 3-month stabilization time for the eye to acclimatize. There are no follow-up treatments required unless the surgery over-corrected or under-corrected the patient's vision, and the patient's enhanced vision will persist for the rest of their lives, barring any normal loss due to ageing or sickness.
•    Although you won't be capable of driving after LASIK surgery, most ophthalmologists anticipate that patients can resume their typical routine as quickly as the next day, except if they work in an exceptionally unclean or dusty environment.

Downfalls of Lasik
•    The most common LASIK side effects are minor dry eye, stinging, as well as irritation, which impact 20 percent to 40% of those who get the operation.
•    Glare and halos surrounding lights at night, as well as trouble with contrast, are also prevalent. About 20% of patients who get LASIK experience these issues.
•    There's also a potential that LASIK won't entirely correct your vision, particularly if you were previously highly nearsighted or farsighted.

PRK Vs Lasik
Refractive eye treatment procedures include LASIK and PRK. They address nearsightedness, farsightedness, as well as astigmatism, among other visual issues.
The cornea, the transparent outermost layer of your eye that controls the amount of light so you can see well, is reshaped with a laser in both LASIK and PRK. They go about it in somewhat distinct approaches, though. The difference between Lasik and Prk has been in debate for quite a long time, which is the reason why we bring you this comprehensive blog, entailing all of their necessary details.
Below we have stated a few of the factors through which we will help you do the Lasik vs Prk and help you understand the major differences between them.
PRK and LASIK are two procedures that can be used to correct vision problems. Each uses a different way to reshape cornea tissue to assist correct your eyesight.
Your eye surgeon removes the epithelium, or top layer of the cornea, during PRK. The other levels of the cornea are then reshaped with lasers, and any uneven curvature in your eye is corrected.
Your eye surgeon creates a small flap in your cornea with LASIK by using lasers or a microscopic scalpel. After raising the flap, your surgeon will use lasers to reshape the cornea. After the surgery, the flap is retracted, and the cornea heals on its own during the next few months.

1- Price factor
When evaluating different kinds of eye surgery, one element to evaluate is the cost. PRK is frequently thought to be less expensive than LASIK. Both treatments are regarded voluntary, and as a result, they are usually paid for out of budget. PRK will necessitate additional doctor's appointments in the post-operative term and can expense more or less than LASIK. Take into account that expenses can vary greatly depending on the doctor and the surrounding region. To acquire precise cost estimates for laser eye surgery around you, approach the eye surgery locations you're contemplating and inquire about prices.
In average, both procedures cost between $2,500 and $5,000. Since LASIK and PRK are deemed elective procedures, they are rarely covered by health insurance policies.

2- Surgical procedures
Both PRK and LASIK are ambulatory treatments that take roughly an hour to complete at an optical surgical facility. The surgeon will place numbing eye drops in each eye and employ an eye speculum to keep your eyelids wide throughout treatment for either surgery.
The physician uses two separate LASERS during LASIK surgery: one to generate the flaps and the other to restructure the cornea. Only one LASER is used during PRK; the LASER that revolutionizes the cornea. In layman's words, the key differences between the two surgical processes are as follows:
•    LASIK requires the creation of a flap, whereas PRK does not.
•    LASIK does not remove the outer layer of the cornea, whereas PRK does.

3- Time required for healing
You'll feel a little stress or stiffness throughout each surgery. As your surgeon adjusts eye tissue, you might experience some alterations in your eyesight. You will not, however, experience any discomfort.
With PRK, complete recovery normally takes about a month. Although total regeneration takes many months, LASIK recovery is speedier. It should just take a couple nights to see clearer.
LASIK takes substantially less time to recuperate from than PRK. The initial recuperation time for PRK is two to three days, whereas LASIK allows you to return to employment the next day.
LASIK patients suffer very little if any pain throughout recovery, however PRK patients may feel "mild - to - moderate" pain or distress in the 24 to 36 hours post treatment. Eye drops as well as oral pain medications can help with this ache.
When compared to LASIK, the duration it requires to get clear eyesight after surgery with PRK is substantially lengthier. After PRK, patients should expect to see perfectly in roughly a month, whereas LASIK patients can expect to see perfectly within few hours to several days.
Since the eye can take too much time to heal following PRK, sometimes doctors choose to perform the treatment solely on a single eye first, subsequently the other a month following afterwards. In most cases, surgeons perform LASIK surgery on both eyes at the same time.

4- Side Effects associated
PRK and LASIK are both regarded reasonable and successful laser vision restoration procedures. Individuals and procedures may have different risks, problems, and adverse reactions.
According to research issued in the journal Ophthalmology, certain PRK and LASIK patients have deterioration of glare, halo, as well as double vision in one eye (monocular diplopia) following treatment, while others experience improvement.
The following were the major differences discovered by the study:
•    Patients who have had PRK may see a rise in halo and diplopia (but not glare)
•    Patients who have had LASIK surgery may be more prone to see an elevation in diplopia (but not glare or halo)

5- Risk associated
Because there is no likelihood of issues with the corneal flap since PRK does not form one, it is regarded somewhat less problematic than LASIK.
When LASIK procedure is conducted by an expert eye surgeon, flap-related problems may occur at a frequency of around 1%. Flap problems can comprise the flap being dislodged after surgery or the cornea developing microscopic creases (flap striae). If flap issues emerge, your LASIK surgeon can usually address them satisfactorily.

6- Prk vs Lasik results
Both PRK and LASIK have equal success rates. In individuals with mild to intermediate nearsightedness, research has demonstrated no distinction in long-term success between PRK and LASIK. Furthermore, studies have indicated that neither PRK nor LASIK are beneficial for individuals with farsightedness.
One distinction is that with LASIK, a flap persists on the cornea after recovery. This implies that the corneal flap is constantly at danger of being dislodged by harsh damage in the foreseeable. The patient may require surgery to relocate the flap in the rare occasions that this occurs.
An eye that has recovered from PRK, on the other hand, returns to its pre-surgery state. As a result, some surgeons advocate PRK for persons who lead very busy lives or work in law enforcement.

7- Which is better for armed personnel
The debate between Lasik or Prk is not just between normal individuals, but also among the armed personnel as well. There are several professions where having strong eyesight is a must. As a result, persons in the military and police forces may need to take extraordinary measures when choosing a laser eyesight correcting solution.
Because good vision is essential in the military, yet eyeglasses and corrective lenses might obstruct work efficiency in some situations, laser eye treatment is widespread. Because of considerations that job-related damage following LASIK could induce flap displacement, PRK is the most preferred laser eye surgery for military personnel.
As per the Aviation Medicine Advisory Service, LASIK has a notable benefit for pilots over PRK, namely less "central murkiness" and the possibility to achieve 20/20 vision faster. Pilots should think about any potential negative effects of laser eye surgery, such as a loss of night vision.
Due to the possibility of the LASIK flap becoming displaced throughout practice or direct interaction on the field, PRK may be a better alternative than LASIK for those who are in enforcement agencies, notwithstanding the lengthier recovery time.
People contemplating PRK or LASIK who work in aerospace, the army, or police departments should be advised that laser eye surgery may not repair their vision to the required level however.

Surgery Process of PRK and Lasik
PRK
•    You will be given numbing solutions to ensure that you do not experience any pain throughout the procedure. You can also be prescribed medicine to help you unwind.
•    The epithelium, the upper surface of corneal tissue, is completely eliminated. It takes roughly 30 seconds to do this task.
•    Any defects in the underlying corneal tissue divisions are repaired using an excimer laser, which is an amazingly accurate surgical instrument. This takes around 30-60 seconds as well.
•    To aid in the healing of the tissues behind the cornea, a specific gauze comparable to a contact lens is placed on surface of the cornea.
Lasik
•    Drops are used to numb the tissues around your eyes.
•    A femtosecond laser is used to create a tiny fold in the epithelium. This permits your surgeon to transfer this stratum to the side whilst lasers are used to remodel the remaining layers. Because it is still connected, the epithelium can be replaced after the procedure rather of being completely removed as in PRK.
•    To restructure corneal tissues and correct any difficulties with eye curvature, an excimer laser is employed.
•    The epithelial flap is repositioned over the rest of the corneal tissue to allow it to recover with the rest of the tissues.

Summing up the differences of Lasik vs Prk
The manner the laser refractive surgery surgeon penetrates the cornea to restructure it with the excimer lasers differs between the operations. Before the excimer laser's power is transmitted to the cornea, the epithelium (skin) tissue that protects the cornea should be scraped or momentarily pushed out of the way such that the excimer laser may reshape the surface of the cornea that does not heal properly. PRK is the procedure that destroys this skin tissue in the first phase, and LASIK is the procedure that temporarily moves it out of the way.

What types of people are candidates for each procedure?
The following are the essential prerequisites for each of these treatments:
•    You've reached the age of majority.
•    Over the last year, your vision hasn't evolved much.
•    It is possible to enhance your vision to at least 20/40.
•    If you're nearsighted, your diopters (a metric of lens intensity) are between -1.00 and -12.00.
•    When you have surgery, you are not pregnant or nursing.
•    When the environment is dim, your average pupil size is roughly 6 millimeters (mm).

Here are several scenarios in which you may be ineligible for one or both:
•    You have sensitivities that impact your lids and the recovery of your eyes.
•    You have glaucoma and diabetes, which are both serious eye diseases.
•    You have an immunological disease like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus that affects your recovery.
•    Your corneas are thin and may not even be able to withstand either operation. This frequently disqualifies you from LASIK surgery.
•    You have enormous pupils, which puts you at risk for vision problems. You may also be ineligible for LASIK as a result of this.
•    You've already undergone one eye surgery (LASIK or PRK), and having another could put you at risk for problems.
Nevertheless, whether you should receive PRK or LASIK will be determined by your unique circumstances. To establish whether you are a better candidate for PRK or LASIK, your eye doctor or eye surgeon will need to do a full eye exam and examine your corneas. If you're a possibility for both operations, your eye doctor will go over the pros and cons with you.

Possible Risks Associated with Either of The Procedures
These treatments may carry the following risks:
•    Dryness of the eyes. LASIK surgery, in particular, can cause you to generate reduced weeping for up to six months after the procedure. This dryness can last for a long period.
•    Squints from flashing lights or projections off objects, halos surrounding lights, or experiencing doubles are all examples of visual shifts or disruptions. It's also possible that you won't be able to see clearly at night. This usually goes away within a few weeks, but it has the potential to become persistent. If the symptoms don't go away after a month, see your doctor.
•    Under correction. If your surgeon won't remove sufficient corneal tissue, your eyesight would not seem much sharper, particularly if the operation was done to address nearsightedness. If you're not happy with your outcomes, your doctor may suggest a follow-up procedure to help you achieve your goals.
•    There is a visual deformation. Your surgeon may extract more corneal tissue than is recommended, resulting in ectasia, or vision abnormalities. This can weaken your cornea and cause your eye to expand due to internal pressure. Ectasia must be treated in order to avoid visual loss.
•    Refractive error. If corneal tissue isn't cleared uniformly, your eye's curvature may vary. If this occurs, you may require additional surgery or the use of glasses or contacts to achieve complete vision correction.
•    Consequences with LASIK flap surgery. Infections or excessive tears might result from problems with the corneal flap created after LASIK. Under the flap, your epithelium may repair unevenly, causing visual distortion or discomfort.
•    Vision problems that is irreversible. As with any surgical treatment, there's a small chance that you'll experience damage or consequences that cause you to lose some or all of your vision. Even if you can see clearer, your eyesight may appear cloudier or blurrier than before.

Which of the two procedures is more effective?
In terms of successfully repairing your eyesight, both treatments are similarly efficient. The key distinction is the amount of time it takes to recuperate.
To see properly after LASIK, it takes a few days or less, whereas PRK takes roughly a month. If the treatment is performed properly by a licensed, skilled surgeon, the ultimate outcomes will be identical.
Because PRK does not leave a scar in your cornea, it is thought to be safer and more effective in the long run. If your eye is harmed, the LASIK flap left behind may be more vulnerable to damage or complications.

How to Choose Someone to Provide Either Lasik or Prk?
Here are some pointers on how to choose the provision of a service for each surgery, as well as some follow up questions any prospective provider:
Examine a number of service providers in your area. Compare and contrast their experiences, expenses, consumer ratings, technological use, and likelihood of success. Some surgeons have more experience or qualifications in a particular surgery.
Do not go with the cheapest deal. Cutting costs may not be enough to compensate for the higher risk and cost of lifetime consequences.
Do not be fooled by commercial statements. Don't trust any surgeon who claims particular results or assurances, as no surgical technique can guarantee you the results you seek 100 percent of the time. In addition, any operation carries a minor risk of complications beyond the surgeon's control.
Any handbooks or waivers should be read. Analyze any pre-op guidelines or documents supplied to you prior to surgery with care.

Laser Eye Surgery Procedure
Your eye healthcare professional will perform a complete eye exam before to the procedure to ensure that your eyes are strong and that you are a good prospect for laser vision restoration. He or she will check for myopia, allergies, and other problems that would prohibit you. He or she will also scan and digitally analyze your eye using a device termed a corneal topographer. This map will be used by the surgeon to design your procedure for the best possible results.
LASIK and PRK are both outpatient treatments, meaning you'll spend about an hour in the physician's office and then leave away. Since your eyesight will be somewhat cloudy following surgery, you'll need somebody trustworthy to drive you home.
In a comfortable place, you'll relax. The surgeon will put anaesthetic drops in your eye, put your face under the lasers, and put an eyelid speculum (retainer) behind your lids to keep your eye opened widely.
In LASIK, the surgeon makes a thin flap in the top of the cornea, folds it back out of the way, removes some corneal tissue with the laser, and then replaces the flap. There is no flap generated during PRK: The outer lamellae are simply removed by the laser.
The surgeon will then apply eye drops or medication to your eye. You can unwind for a bit before returning home to rest. You'll probably notice a difference in your vision right away, and it'll usually get better as the weeks pass.
After LASIK, some patients develop dry eye, which is normally eased with eye drops and goes away over time. Others, especially at night, may see starbursts or halos around lights. This impact usually fades or vanishes with time. Vision decreases rather than improves in a small percentage of persons (probably less than 1%).

Frequently Asked Questions
1- What is laser vision correction?
It's a medical treatment that involves delicately reshaping the cornea — the eye's surface — using a cooled (non-thermal) light beam to enhance eyesight. To straighten the cornea (to remedy nearsightedness), slacken the cornea (to treat farsightedness), and/or level out corneal abnormalities, the laser destroys small fragments of epithelium (to correct astigmatism).
The purpose of laser treatment is to alter the curvature of the cornea so that it can fully concentrate pictures onto the retina, resulting in clearer vision. Laser vision restoration is divided into two types: LASIK and PRK.

2- Are LASIK and PRK safe?
LASIK and PRK are FDA-approved procedures that have demonstrated to be secure and successful. Laser vision restoration uses a computer-controlled cold (non-thermal) beam of light. The surgeon activates the beam and can switch it off at any time. There are numerous precautions in place to decrease the possibility of human mistake. Any surgical treatment, however, comes with hazards.
Although no one knows the actual number of consequences, studies estimate that mild issues like dry eyes and nocturnal glare affect 3 percent to 5 percent of people, while serious incidences like vision loss affect less than 1% of people. There have been no reported incidents of blindness as a result of LASIK or PRK. Again, the results are often excellent.

3- Can I have both eyes done at the same time?
The majority of surgeons administer LASIK on both eyes at the very same time. Many surgeons will postpone another week or two among eyes for PRK since it takes much longer for excellent, pleasant eyesight after PRK.

4- What distinguishes eye laser surgery from other types of refractive vision correction?
Laser vision correction treatments that have been licensed by the FDA, such as LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), have a greater dependability of the end result and a decreased risk of problems. In addition, instead of using automated lasers for rectification, prior treatments often used manually conducted incisions.

5- Is it painful to have laser eyesight correction?
Since your surgeon first must administer anesthetic eye drops in your eye, you will not experience any pain during LASIK or PRK. If pain medicine is required, he or she will prescribe it. Many LASIK patients experience only minor discomfort during the first few days after surgery. Because PRK reveals the deeper layers of the retina, there is more soreness afterward. Protective surface cells must grow back over the treated area for clear and pleasant vision following PRK. This procedure can take a week or more, depending on the circumstances.

6- Will I still need glasses after LASIK or PRK?
While most individuals can see perfectly without glasses following laser vision correction, if you have modest residual refractive error after surgery, you may still require or want corrective lenses for specific activities (driving at night, for example).
Progressives’ lenses will provide you excellent sight at all ranges and protect your eyes from dirt, particles, and blowing wind or climate control if you're over 40 and exhibit signs of presbyopia.
Photochromic lenses are advantageous since they shield your eyes from 100% of the sun's UV rays also dim instantly when exposed to sunshine. (This is especially useful if you are light sensitive following surgery.)

Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed in depth what Lasik and Prk are, along with their advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, we have done a very detailed comparison on them as well, so that you may be at ease when choosing which one to opt for. Even though choosing either of them should be left upon the doctor, it is still advised to do your own research rather than just blindly accepting what the other person tells you.
Both LASIK and PRK are excellent solutions for vision correction. Consult your doctor or an eye expert to determine which choice is best for you, based on the characteristics of your eye and overall health. We hope you understand the major differences between the Prk and Lasik and are able to make an educated choice for your eyes.