Filutowski Cataract and Lasik Institute Refractive Surgery PRK

PRK – Photorefractive Keratectomy

PRK is very similar to LASIK; some call it “surface LASIK”. The same laser, the excimer laser, is used to ablate or remove a small amount of tissue from the front of the cornea. This ablation is done just under the outer surface of the eye, called the epithelium. No flap is made as is done with the LASIK procedure. This is the greatest difference between the two procedures: LASIK procedure involves making a corneal flap and PRK does not.

There is slightly more discomfort while healing after PRK than LASIK. The visual improvement is somewhat slower with PRK. The visual results are usually the same for both procedures. For many of our patients who do not qualify for LASIK, PRK offers a great option for vision correction.