Refractive eye surgeries are used for decreasing or eliminating patient’s dependence on the glasses or contact lenses, these surgeries are also known to improve the refractive state of the eye, hence our dependence on glasses eliminates or reduces to a great level. Successfully carried out refractive eye surgeries reduce or cure vision disorders like myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia along with treating degenerative disorders like keratoconus.
Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) and Laser-assisted in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) are two different types of refractive eye surgeries, in case of both the cornea is reshaped using an excimer laser to allow properly focused entry of light onto the retina.
The results of PRK and LASIK, both are comparable but these two surgeries differ from each other mainly based on the first steps involved in both the procedure.
In PRK, a surface procedure, the outer thin layer of the cornea is removed and discarded, followed by reshaping of the underlying corneal tissue using the excimer laser. The earlier discarded outer thin layer also known as the epithelium heals itself post few days of surgery.
Whereas in case of LASIK, a flap procedure that is a microkeratome is used to create a flap on the cornea, followed by reshaping of the corneal tissue using an excimer laser. The flap created is replaced post-correction.
Here is a quick comparison between the two refractive eye surgery procedures
Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
● Another thin layer of the cornea is removed and discarded.
● Inner, now exposed the layer of the cornea is shaped using an excimer laser.
● New cells regenerate the outer thin layer in a few days.
● Slower recovery as compared to LASIK as the cell regeneration take time.
● There is a slightly increased risk of infection.
● A higher level of discomfort for the patients compared to LASIK.
● Better exposure to the inner layers of the cornea as the outer epithelial layer is removed completely.
Laser-assisted in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)
● A flap is cut from the outer layer of the cornea without completely detaching it.
● The flap is folded, moved out of the way and the cornea is reshaped using an excimer laser.
● The incisions made for the creation of the flap heal after replacement of the flap.
● Faster recovery.
● The risk of infections is less as compared to PRK.
● More comfortable as compared to PRK for patients.
● The flap may take away inner stromal tissue too, leaving less behind to be reshaped.
Even after considering all the procedural aspects of both PRK and LASIK eye surgeries along with their safety and result predictability, the success of the procedures depends on the patient’s candidature too.
There are several eye specialists in Nagpur that perform LASIK eye surgeries but Madhav Netralaya has gained the status of the best eye hospital in Nagpur because of an improved version known as bladeless/ blade-free LASIK eye surgery wherein a precision femtosecond laser i.e. LENSX laser is used to create a flap eliminating the need of any surgical instruments thus reducing the risk of damages and increasing predictability of the flap’s thickness.
The top of the line refractive surgery services in Nagpur offered by Madhav Netralaya is a combination of high-end technology and well experienced and dedicated team of healthcare providers. To know more about LASIK, please contact us at www.madhavnetralaya.org.