Are you considering a vision correction procedure like LASIK? Although LASIK is a life-changing procedure, not everyone is right for it. 

Some patients may not qualify for LASIK due to various reasons, including thin corneas, having chronically dry eyes, extreme nearsightedness, past eye problems, and having unrealistic expectations of what the procedure can accomplish.

After booking your consultation and going through various tests, nothing can be as disappointing as being told you don’t qualify for LASIK, especially when it feels like glasses hold you back from living your best life. 

Fortunately, you may be a better candidate for a procedure like PRK instead. Keep reading to find out if you should have PRK if you’re not a LASIK candidate! 
 

What is PRK?

Because PRK doesn’t entail creating a corneal flap, it is usually an ideal option for patients who don’t qualify for LASIK. The procedure involves the complete removal of the outer surface of your cornea. 

Then, using a laser, the surgeon carefully reshapes the cornea to refract light properly. Following a PRK procedure, your surgeon will use a soft contact lens that acts as a bandage while your eye recovers. 

After a few days, the epithelium begins to grow on its own, and then the bandage contact lens is removed.

PRK may be a better alternative for you if:

• You have mild to severe nearsightedness

• Your cornea is thin

• You participate in contact sports or martial arts that could cause potential damage to your corneal flap 

The general requirements for PRK are:

• You’re at least 18 years old

• You don’t take any steroids

• You don’t have any existing conditions like glaucoma or cataracts 

• You don’t have any autoimmune conditions like diabetes or HIV that make it harder to recover after PRK

• You don’t have any collagen vascular diseases that can cause corneal ulcers

• You’re not currently pregnant or nursing
   

What is Recovery Like After PRK?

You’ll have the most discomfort in the first few days following your PRK procedure. During this period, you might experience blurry vision, light sensitivity, and halos around lights. 

Compared to LASIK, the recovery is a little bit longer when you have PRK. You’ll want to take a few days off of work to give your eyes time to relax and recover. 

On day five, most patients report significant improvements in their vision. You’ll be able to resume most of your everyday activities after about a week. Most PRK recovery is over after a week, but your vision should stabilize in a month.
 

Benefits of PRK Over LASIK

Flap complications are one of the significant issues associated with LASIK. If the flap isn’t created correctly, it might not close the right way or cause microscopic debris to be trapped underneath. 

Both problems can result in visual aberrations or distorted vision. These problems are avoidable with PRK since there is no flap created.

If you have a stronger prescription, you’ll need to have more corneal tissue removed. Because of this, your surgeon may recommend PRK instead of LASIK. 
 

How Do the Outcomes of PRK Compare to LASIK?

Like LASIK, PRK has high success rates and overall patient satisfaction. While the healing process of PRK is slightly longer than LASIK, patients who choose PRK will end up with essentially the same results as those that get LASIK. Most patients have 20/20 vision or better after having PRK. 

Wondering if PRK could be the right vision correction procedure for you? Schedule a consultation at Coastal Vision Medical at one of our locations in Norco, Orange, Irvine, or Long Beach, CA, today!