What is the difference between LASIK, PRK, and LASEK?
These are slightly different surgical procedures. LASIK eye surgery is the most common laser vision correction procedure. It involves making a flap in the cornea and reshaping the underlying tissue with an excimer laser. In PRK, the laser is applied after reducing the epithelium (the protective layer of the cornea), without making a flap. In LASEK, the epithelium is peeled away and then replaced after a laser is applied. Since there is no corneal flap in either PRK or LASEK, there is no risk of flap complications, and more corneal tissue is preserved; however, there is a slight chance of corneal haze at the surface, and the healing is also more prolonged. Generally, LASIK, PRK, and LASEK result in the same quality of post-operative vision.
