PRK or LASIK- Understanding them and their differences

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PRK or LASIK- Understanding them and their
differences
PRK and LASIK are both laser surgeries which are
devised in order to improve vision in humans and
are almost similar procedures with the same
outcome barring the fact that the way they are
performed are different. While LASIK is one of
the most talked about and well known eye care
surgeries, PRK is more often suggested to the
patients who are not really eligible and fit for
the LASIK procedure.
Differences between LASIK PRK
PRK or LASIK, this might be the question in a
patients mind when they think of an eye
correction laser surgery as both of them are
almost similar barring the surgical procedure
they involve. While in LASIK, a flap is created
in the cornea of the eye, in PRK no such flap
creation is necessary.
In order to treat eye conditions like far
sightedness, near sightedness and astigmatism,
PRK or LASIK both are equally accepted and
effective when tried on.
Both LASIK as well as PRK changes the shape of
the cornea with a laser beam but the access to
the cornea and the changes made are done
differently. In PRK, flap creation is not there
and the outer layer of the cornea, also known as
epithelium is removed. While in LASIK, a flap is
created in the cornea and within which the
internal parts of cornea are accessed with the
laser beam for reshaping.
It is but important to note that while we decide
on whether to go for PRK or LASIK eye care
treatments, it must be noted that as the PRK do
not use the flap creation technique as used in
the LASIK one, they have several disadvantages
to go against the same. Some of the disadvantages
of PRK over LASIK are
1.
Lot of discomfort experienced in recovery time.
2.
The duration of recovery taken in PRK is way
longer than is taken in the LASIK eye
surgical technique.
3.
In PRK, the results of the surgery take a lot of
time to manifest themselves which is not the
case in terms of LASIK surgeries.
While it is extremely difficult to determine
whether to go for the LASIK eye surgical process
or the PRK one as both of them are equally safe
and effective in terms of their end result, it is
best decided by a trained eye surgeon who
specializes in laser eye surgeries.
While in LASIK, there are certain factors that
the doctor understands to make sure that it is
the best for a person, PRK is suggested when a
person isnt a great candidate for LASIK. Usually
the patients who are asked to choose PRK instead
of LASIK are
1.
Those patients who have thin corneas.
2.
People who have a prior history of dry eyes.
3.
People who have steep corneas.
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4. And, those who have large pupils.
Additionally, it must be noted that the patients
who are concerned about the LASIK complications
which mainly arise from the flap creation choose
PRK over the LASIK surgery.
However, whichever you choose medical history has
shown that the patient satisfaction ratio has
been almost equal and at par!