Types of Laser Surgery
LASIK
LASIK eye surgery is one of the world’s most popular forms of laser eye surgery due to its minimal infection risk and the relatively short amount of recovery time it requires.
During LASIK, your ophthalmologist will create a minuscule flap in your cornea’s outer layer and fold it back to expose the middle layers. They will then reshape the cornea’s middle layers (the corneal stroma) with a laser to correct any refractive errors and finish by carefully replacing the initial flap they created.
Most patients who undergo LASIK can see clearly within 24 hours and can expect their vision to stabilize within 2 to 3 months.
PRK
Patients with thin corneas may not be suitable candidates for LASIK surgery since complications can occur if the flap on the cornea’s outer layer comes loose after the procedure. PRK represents a possible alternative for people with thin corneas and others who are at higher risk for LASIK complications.
PRK surgery removes the cornea’s outer layer (epithelium) and reshapes the corneal stroma with an excimer laser. It can take 5 days or so to return to normal activities after PRK since the cornea’s outer layer requires time to repair itself, and full recovery can take up to 6 months.