When it comes to laser eye surgery vision correction there are many options to choose from, but the two primary types are PRK and LASIK. However, each of these primary methods of laser eye surgery vision correction has several different modifications. An example of this would be LASEK which is a modified form of PRK. The one thing that all forms of laser eye surgery vision correction have in common is the fact that they are performed when the patient is awake with eye drops used to numb the eyes.

Anything that is classified under the PRK form of laser eye surgery vision correction are procedures that involve a surface ablation to remove the outermost layer of the cornea rather than creating a flap with a cutting techniques, such as the technique used in all forms of LASIK procedures. All laser eye surgery vision correction procedures need to remove the epithelium first and then reshape the cornea with a laser. However, you should consider the differences in each type of laser eye surgery vision correction so you can make an informed decision about which one is right for your needs.

PRK

With this form of surgery the outermost layer of the cornea is manually scraped away before using a laser to reshape the underlying surface of the cornea, then after the surgery the epithelium layer must grown back in place. For those with a thin cornea this is the best option for laser eye surgery vision correction since you don’t want to cut a cornea flap in those with a thin cornea. However, the drawbacks of this surgery method is the long recovery period and slight discomfort during the healing process. The advantages is you don’t have to create a flap which carries the most risk in laser surgeries and there is no deep penetration of the eye which means there is no risk of inner eye pressure.

LASEK

This is a more advanced form of PRK which uses an alcohol solution to soften the epithelium before it is removed. Then after the laser reshapes the cornea the epithelium is replaced. The advantages of this form of laser eye surgery vision correction is that the healing process is quicker than PRK and you still avoid the use of cutting a flap in the cornea.

LASIK

This method uses a metal blade to cut the cornea flap and a laser to reshape the eye. The flap is then returned to its position after the procedure. For most patients this surgery option is painless and vision is corrected immediately with only some blurriness for the first twenty-four house and vision improves completely in only a few weeks which is a much quicker period than the PRK method.