Am I A Good Candidate for LASIK or PRK?

Lasik | Stuart P. Sondheimer, MD | Chicago, IL Have you ever lost a contact while out at a themepark, or broken your glasses when you forgot they were sitting on your favorite chair? We have. Though we love glasses and contact lenses, some of us will always want to just have perfect vision again. Think about waking up in the morning and experiencing perfect vision. You won’t have to fumble for glasses or walk to the bathroom to put in contact lenses. Thankfully, we have two great options for patients who are ready to say “bye bye” to glasses or contact lenses. Interested in learning more? Keep reading to understand the basics of LASIK and PRK (or photorefractive keratectomy).

Similarities

Generally, LASIK and PRK have a lot in common. They are both are refractive surgeries that help correct issues like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. Both procedures utilize an excimer laser to reshape the cornea, allowing for correct focus of light on the retina that results in clear vision.

Both procedures require that patients do not wear contact lenses for an extended period of time before surgery. Expect to wear glasses for around two weeks to let your eyes adjust and allow for a good examination before the procedure.

Differences

During the LASIK procedure, a microkeratome is used to gently create a corneal “flap” that folds back. Toward the end of the procedure, the flap moves back to its original position. PRK does not require the creation of this flap, so flap complications are non-existent for a patient who has had PRK.

Vision takes longer to recover after PRK, and Dr. Sondheimer prefers that patients rest and let their eyes recover for at least 3 days before returning to work after the procedure.

One very important difference is PRK is sometimes suitable for patients who are not good candidates for LASIK surgery. Certain patients who have thinner corneas or dry eyes may not be able to get LASIK surgery, but are great candidates for PRK!

Schedule a Consultation

If you are interested in learning more about PRK or LASIK, we would love to schedule a consultation with you. Please give us a call at (847) 677-2794 to see if you are ready to live without glasses or contact lenses.

Get in Touch

* All indicated fields must be completed.
Please include non-medical questions and correspondence only.

Accessibility Toolbar

Scroll to Top