PRK or Intacs for -5 Myopia?

Thank you for your question. I perform both PRK and Intacs. However - the quality of vision is better with PRK, and I would highly recommend PRK because you can be corrected to 20/20 - while with Intacs you would still have 2 diopters of residual myopia. The risks with both procedures are probably pretty similar. I hope this helps Best regards

As previously stated, you said nothing about your corneal thickness. Depending on this and your corneal topography, there is no doubt that the quality of vision will be much better with either LASIK or PRK when compared to Intacs. There is a reason why these procedures are so much more popular!

There are many reasons why PRK or LASIK are preferred for mild (-5.00) myopia. Intacs introduces a foreign body in the cornea. They also can be visible as they are tiny pieces of “plastic” material placed in the corner. In my experience, INTACS are best reserved for unusual cases, not routine laser vision correction.

The concept of Intacs is a great one. These are small pieces of plastic that can be easily inserted in the cornea in the surgeons office, resulting in improved vision without glasses. The trouble is the results with Intacs have not been very predictable. We loved the idea that this procedure was reversible, which is true, however, the procedure has to work predictably first, whcih it does not. It sounds like your best option is either LASIK(if your corneas are thick enough) or PRK(if... more

You did not say what your corneal thickness readings were or if there were other considerations that make corneal surgery risky, but assuming that there is no problem with having PRK this is a safer, simpler and more predictable option. I am also not sure why you would want to have only 3 out of 5 diopters corrected unless this is a limitation of corneal thickness or you are older than it sounds like from your question, where you may want monovision in one eye.  If both eyes are... more

I agree. Go with LASIK. You'll be happier with your visual results after surgery. And in many practices LASIK is actually cheaper than Intacs. Good luck!

In 2010, Intacs are used as a treatment for keratoconus, a corneal thinning disorder. Their accuracy in treating myopic prescriptions is not as precise as LASIK or PRK due to an inability to correct astigmatism, induction of astigmatism due to the suture at the insertion site and the fact that the lens segments come in only a few sizes. I would recommend that you speak about the best option for you with your eye doctor after a complete consultation.