What Is LASIK?
LASIK is a surgical procedure intended to reduce a person’s dependency on glasses or contact lenses. It permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye. using an excimer laser. A mechanical microkeratome (a blade device) is used to cut a flap in the cornea. A hinge is left at one end or this flap, and then the flap is folded back to reveal the soon to be treated area. Pulses from the excimer laser vaporize a portion of the exposed area and then the flap is put back into place.

What is LASEK?
LASEK is a surgical procedure intended to reduce a person’s dependency on glasses or contact lenses. It permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser. In LASEK a mechanical device is not used to create a flap, rather a dilute alcohol solution is applied directly to the eye’s surface. The ultra thin, outer layer of the eye (epithelium) is then removed so that pulses from the excimer laser can vaporize a portion of the exposed area. After this is done, the thin layer of epithelium is pulled back into place.

What is PRK?
PRK is similar to LASEK except for once the thin layer or epithelium is removed, it is discarded. The same excimer laser is used to vaporize the desired tissue. The thin layer of epithelium will eventually grow back.