PRK
PRK involves reshaping the cornea, which must be done on the second and thickest layer of the eye, called the stroma. Laser treatments cannot be done on the outermost layer (the epithelium) as this layer is constantly regenerating and fills back in over time, which means changes to this layer would not remain constant.
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy or Advanced Surface Ablation)
The second layer of the cornea (stroma) is exposed for laser treatment by removing the first layer (epithelium) over the area to be treated. Laser pulses are then applied to the surface of the stromal layer to reshape the cornea. Sophisticated alignment and tracking systems guide the laser during treatment, which usually take between 10 and 60 seconds. A thin soft bandage contact lens covers the cornea for approximately four days as the epithelium regenerates underneath. After the contact lens is removed, patients notice a day by day improvement in vision, usually reaching driving levels of vision within a few more days. Although PRK patients need more time to heal, the end result is identical to the LASIK procedure. PRK provides less risk due to its simplicity and the fact that it does not require a flap to be made.
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- The excimer laser removes tissue less than the thickness of a human hair
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- The reshaped cornea causes images to focus more directly on the retina
LASIK (Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis)
The surgeons at Kelowna Laser Vision believe that Intralase SBK offers an enhanced level of safety for patients and is therefore a better option than Lasik.
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