LASIK vs PRK

Hi, it’s Dr. Chotiner from Memorial Eye Institute. If you’re considering either having LASIK or PRK, in this post, I’ll compare the differences so you know which is best suited to you and your needs.

Benefits of LASIK

LASIK offers similar benefits to PRK i.e. it modifies the cornea of your eye in order to help improve eyesight.

Both techniques can also treat:

  1. nearsightedness (also known as myopia): the inability to see distant objects clearly
  2. farsightedness (also known as hyperopia): the inability to see close objects clearly
  3. astigmatism: an irregular eye shape that causes blurry vision

People will commonly choose PRK because they’re not suitable for LASIK (due to their cornea being too thin).

Benefits of PRK

PRK offers the same benefits as LASIK.

The big benefit of PRK is that it’s very safe if there was ever an inadvertent eye injury. So for example, you can still continue to work in the emergency services or in the military if you’ve had PRK, whereas you may not be suitable for those occupations after LASIK.

The same is true for aviation and being a pilot. With that being said, the US Navy and even NASA allow its astronauts to have all-laser LASIK for their personnel because LASIK is sufficiently safe and the downtime is so much shorter. So these policies vary depending on your specific situation.

To learn more about PRK and LASIK, and know which laser eye surgery treatment is best for you, please book online for a free virtual vision assessment on our website today.

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Take this quick quiz to see if you can be free of glasses and contacts

Not everyone is suitable for LASIK. Your options change depending on your eyes, your age and your lifestyle. Find out which type of treatment (if any), is right for you by taking this 2 min quiz now:

Recognized leaders in Harrisburg LASIK eye surgery

CHOOSE THE MOST EXPERIENCED LASIK SPECIALISTS IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

Dr. Bennett Chotiner
M.D., F.A.C.S.

MEDICAL DIRECTOR, GENERAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, CATARACT & REFRACTIVE SURGERY, LASIK SURGERY

Dr. Bennett Chotiner is the founder and medical director of Memorial Eye Institute. A noted innovator, in 1977 he established his clinical practice, the Pennsylvania Eye Associates. In 1984, he established the Pennsylvania Eye Surgery Center, Pennsylvania’s first …

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Dr. Erik A Chotiner
M.D., F.A.C.S.

GENERAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, CATARACT & REFRACTIVE SURGERY, LASIK SURGERY

Erik Chotiner, M.D. diagnoses and treats a wide range of medical eye conditions. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Franklin and Marshall College. Dr. Chotiner attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia where he received multiple awards including the Physiology Prize for …

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