PRK No Better than LASIK with Dry Eye Risks

According to a study out of Stanford, as well as clinical experience by ophthalmologists, PRK is no better than LASIK when it comes to the risk of dry eye syndrome. The study says the conventional wisdom has always said those who already have dry eyes may be better off getting PRK than LASIK because the side effect of developing dry eyes post eye surgery is lower with PRK. However, that is apparently not the case.

Patients of both LASIK and PRK give the same ratings to their post-operative eye dryness. However, in each case the symptoms disappeared within a year. Another side effect each procedure has, according to researchers, is the feeling of having a foreign body within the eye.

The differences between the two procedures, and why patients may seek them out, are still pretty stark. For one, LASIK causes less pain and has a quicker recovery period than does PRK. LASIK patients also have their vision clear up within the first 24 hours, compared to several weeks for PRK patients to achieve the same level of clarity.

Some patients will undergo PRK because they aren't good candidates for LASIK, for example, if their corneas are too thin. However, some will choose PRK because it is much cheaper than LASIK is. In the end, the best thing you can do is talk to your ophthalmologist about your concerns.

If you would like to find out more about the differences between PRK and LASIK, please contact an experienced eye doctor in your area today.