{"slug":"lasik-vs-prk","title":"LASIK vs PRK","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/lasik-vs-prk","faqCount":5,"faqs":[{"question":"Which procedure is safer long-term?","answer":"Both are safe long-term, but with different risk profiles. LASIK has a 0.5-1% risk of flap-related complications that could require retreatment, while PRK's main long-term concern is corneal haze (3-10% incidence), which is usually mild and resolves within 12 months. LASIK has superior long-term corneal clarity, while PRK maintains better corneal structural integrity. For the average patient, both have excellent safety records with >95% achieving 20/25 vision or better."},{"question":"Can I do LASIK if I have a thin cornea?","answer":"Not reliably. LASIK requires a minimum of 500 microns of corneal thickness to safely create a flap and perform the laser ablation. PRK is specifically designed for thinner corneas and only requires ≥400 microns. If your cornea is between 400-500 microns, PRK is the appropriate choice. Your corneal topography and thickness will be measured during screening to determine eligibility for each procedure."},{"question":"How painful is recovery for each procedure?","answer":"LASIK recovery is minimally uncomfortable—most patients report only mild grittiness or dry eye sensation that resolves within days. PRK is significantly more uncomfortable: patients typically experience moderate to severe eye pain for 3-5 days post-operatively, requiring prescription pain medication and typically requiring 1 week off work. The pain is normal and expected; it reflects the removal of the corneal epithelium and gradually improves as healing progresses. By day 7-10, PRK discomfort becomes manageable without narcotic pain relief."},{"question":"I play contact sports—which should I choose?","answer":"PRK is strongly recommended for contact athletes, boxers, military personnel, and martial artists. LASIK creates a corneal flap that remains a structural weakness for life; even years post-operatively, a direct eye impact could potentially displace the flap. PRK eliminates this risk entirely by not creating a flap. While LASIK patients can safely return to contact sports after 3-4 weeks, the flap vulnerability remains a theoretical concern. For high-impact athletes, PRK's superior structural integrity is the better choice despite longer recovery."},{"question":"Will I need glasses after either procedure?","answer":"Both procedures aim for 20/20 uncorrected vision in approximately 90-95% of patients. However, 5-10% experience slight undercorrection or overcorrection requiring minor glasses for distance or near vision. PRK may have slightly higher retreatment rates (5-10%) due to corneal haze effects on healing, while LASIK typically requires retreatment in 3-5% of cases. Patients over 40 often need reading glasses regardless of the procedure due to natural presbyopia (age-related loss of focusing ability)."}],"faqPageSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/lasik-vs-prk#faq","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/lasik-vs-prk","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"LASIK vs PRK — FAQ","description":"Frequently asked questions about LASIK vs PRK","dateModified":"2026-07-07T18:03:02.072Z","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"isPartOf":{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/lasik-vs-prk#article"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":["#faq",".faq-item"]},"mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Which procedure is safer long-term?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Both are safe long-term, but with different risk profiles. LASIK has a 0.5-1% risk of flap-related complications that could require retreatment, while PRK's main long-term concern is corneal haze (3-10% incidence), which is usually mild and resolves within 12 months. LASIK has superior long-term corneal clarity, while PRK maintains better corneal structural integrity. For the average patient, both have excellent safety records with >95% achieving 20/25 vision or better.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/lasik-vs-prk"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I do LASIK if I have a thin cornea?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Not reliably. LASIK requires a minimum of 500 microns of corneal thickness to safely create a flap and perform the laser ablation. PRK is specifically designed for thinner corneas and only requires ≥400 microns. If your cornea is between 400-500 microns, PRK is the appropriate choice. Your corneal topography and thickness will be measured during screening to determine eligibility for each procedure.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/lasik-vs-prk"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How painful is recovery for each procedure?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"LASIK recovery is minimally uncomfortable—most patients report only mild grittiness or dry eye sensation that resolves within days. PRK is significantly more uncomfortable: patients typically experience moderate to severe eye pain for 3-5 days post-operatively, requiring prescription pain medication and typically requiring 1 week off work. The pain is normal and expected; it reflects the removal of the corneal epithelium and gradually improves as healing progresses. By day 7-10, PRK discomfort becomes manageable without narcotic pain relief.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/lasik-vs-prk"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"I play contact sports—which should I choose?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"PRK is strongly recommended for contact athletes, boxers, military personnel, and martial artists. LASIK creates a corneal flap that remains a structural weakness for life; even years post-operatively, a direct eye impact could potentially displace the flap. PRK eliminates this risk entirely by not creating a flap. While LASIK patients can safely return to contact sports after 3-4 weeks, the flap vulnerability remains a theoretical concern. For high-impact athletes, PRK's superior structural integrity is the better choice despite longer recovery.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/lasik-vs-prk"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Will I need glasses after either procedure?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Both procedures aim for 20/20 uncorrected vision in approximately 90-95% of patients. However, 5-10% experience slight undercorrection or overcorrection requiring minor glasses for distance or near vision. PRK may have slightly higher retreatment rates (5-10%) due to corneal haze effects on healing, while LASIK typically requires retreatment in 3-5% of cases. Patients over 40 often need reading glasses regardless of the procedure due to natural presbyopia (age-related loss of focusing ability).","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/lasik-vs-prk"}}]}}