LASEK (PRK)

LASEK and PRK laser eye treatments reshape the cornea to correct abnormalities in focus, as also happens in LASIK surgery. The difference here is that no flap is made in the cornea. These treatments are far less popular than LASIK, due to the significant pain post-operatively and the more prolonged healing (4 hours for LASIK and 4-7 days for PRK and LASEK).

Surface laser is chosen usually when the patient is not eligible for LASIK due to anatomical reasons.

Surface Laser Treatments

These treatments are sometimes called ‘surface laser’ to distinguish them from the LASIK approach. Most clinics perform LASIK for the majority of treatments and use PRK or LASEK in about 5-10% of cases. PRK/LASEK is especially suitable for those in contact sports or extremely active lifestyles.

In PRK and LASEK, the surface skins cells (epithelium) is removed and the underlying surface is exposed. After the laser application, the surface skin has to heal and this takes 3 to 4 days. It can be fairly painful during the first 3 days and the vision usually takes 3 to 5 days to be fairly clear. Patients often need several days off work.

PRK is usually chosen for anatomical reasons, typically a patient with thinner corneas where you want to avoid creating a LASIK flap. However, with the arrival of very predictable thin LASIK flaps, even some of these patients can now have the benefits of LASIK, e.g. no or little discomfort and very rapid clear vision, usually later the same day for LASIK.