Dr. Kornstein will personally meet with you during your laser vision correction screening appointment to determine if PRK, LASEK, or LASIK is right for you. By meeting with the surgeon who will be performing your surgery during the initial consultative appointment, you can feel confident that the most suitable course of treatment was recommended.

The surgical procedure for PRK is only slightly different than LASIK. Both reshape your eye’s cornea to improve its ability to refract and process light. In LASIK, we use a femtosecond laser to create a flap in the cornea, the transparent outer layer of the eye, which we replace after modifying the underlying tissue to correct your vision.
In PRK, we remove the epithelial (outer) corneal layer completely. This provides increased access to the underlying stromal layer. The outer layer grows back over the surgery site, resulting in a slightly longer recovery time and a slightly greater risk for infection. However, PRK has no risk of flap complications and a lower risk of irreversibly removing more cornea than necessary.

Prior to PRK surgery, Dr. Kornstein will meet with you to keep you informed and comfortable. After applying numbing eye drops, he will remove the center of your outer cornea with a buffing device or alcohol solution. Next, a precise laser will be used to modify the shape of your cornea. As in LASIK, this process is computer-controlled and very accurate. Once the cornea is reshaped, your surgeon will place a contact lens that will act as a bandage while your eye heals. Your cornea should grow back in about five days, at which point you will return to our office so Dr. Kornstein can remove the lens and check your eye. The surgery usually takes less than half an hour. After your PRK, it may take several weeks for your vision to improve and several months for it to stabilize completely.

Instead of creating a flap or removing the outer corneal layer entirely, LASEK involves creating a circular capsulotomy and removing the outer layer of the cornea. This epithelial layer is preserved and placed back onto the eye after the procedure is complete. LASEK requires a much thinner incision than LASIK, making it a good option for patients who do not qualify for LASIK because their cornea is too thin. LASEK has a similar recovery time to PRK and offers similar advantages. If your underlying tissue needs more reshaping, or if you lead an especially active lifestyle that could dislodge a corneal flap, LASEK may be the right choice for you.