Which laser vision correction would have less chance of complication such as hazy vision after surgery: Lasik or PRK?

Below are a few points outlining the differences between PRK and LASIKLASIK is usually our procedure of choice, given the quick and painless visual recovery. The safety profile of LASIK has increased significantly since the advent of the femtosecond lasers. Flap complications are very rare.Some patients may not be the best candidates for LASIK, and PRK (flapless lasik) may be recommended. Situations when PRK is preferable include: thin corneas, corneal scars, corneal shape irregularity. Studies show that when you compare the quality of vision 1 month after the procedure, PRK and LASIK result in very comparable, excellent quality of vision.In the past when LASIK was done with mechanical keratomes one had to consider the risk of having a flap complications (LASIK) vs. the risk of possible PRK haze. With the advent of flying spot EXCIMER lasers like the Wavelight Allegretto and use of adjuvants like mitomycin, PRK haze has become very uncommon.

PRK hurts and takes a long time to recover
if you have a high Rx and do a PRK the surgeon must use intraoperative MMC or you might scar
in general LASIK is slightly more risky than PRK bc it involves cutting your cornea open
that's why i now do LASEK, as it has the safety of a PRK and the quick recovery of a LASIK

Although both procedures are overall safe and performed routinely by many refractive surgeons, each procedure has its own indication and its own specific risks. So it would be very difficult to group all the risks that could lead to decreased vision for each of the procedures and compare them as a whole with the other group.  

PRK has a lower chance of complications than traditional LASIK. 

 

However Intra-LASIK and PRK are both so safe that it is difficult to compare.  Both are among the safest procedures in existence.  Comparable to dental surgery in safety or laser hair removal.

 

Intra-LASIK and PRK are both similar to getting a laser treatment in your cornea, which is the fastest healing area of the body, faster than your skin.

Corneal haze has long been a complication of PRK.  With the newer lasers and medications used during and after surgery to modulate healing it is much less common than it has been.  The newer lasers create a smoother ablation and this substantially reduces the risk of complications.   Most surgeons now use a drug called Mitomycin that reduces the chance of haze substantially.  Patients can do their part as well.  Avoid pregnanacy for the first few months.  Substantial changes in hormonal status substantially increases the risk of haze.  The use of UV protecting sunglasses for a year after your procedure is also important, even on a cloudy day.  Lastly, many surgeons believe that the consumption of one gram of Vitamin C per day for the first year is also helpful.

LASIK has less chance of haze post operatively.  iLASIK, which is the most advanced LASIK technology has the best chance of superior vision as it is the most accurate and precise procedure. 

It may be hard to believe these days, when everything is "LASIK this" and "LASIK that," but PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) used to be the most common refractive surgery procedure.

Both are grouped under the umbrella "laser eye surgery," but each is a little different when it comes to advantages and disadvantages.

LASIK patients have less discomfort and obtain good vision more quickly (with PRK improvement is gradual and over a few days or even months), but many surgeons prefer PRK for patients with larger pupils or thin corneas. Dr. Drucker is one of these surgeons, and, in fact, is a PRK specialist.

PRK was invented in the early 1980s. The first FDA approval of a laser for PRK was in 1995, but the procedure was practiced in other countries for years. In fact, many Americans had the surgery done in Canada before it was available in the United States.

PRK is performed with an excimer laser, which uses a cool ultraviolet light beam to precisely remove ("ablate") very tiny bits of tissue from the surface of the cornea in order to reshape it. When you reshape the cornea in the right way, it works better to focus light into the eye and onto the retina, providing clearer vision than before.

Both nearsighted and farsighted people can benefit from PRK. With nearsighted people, the goal is to flatten the too-steep cornea; with farsighted people, a steeper cornea is desired. Also, excimer lasers can correct astigmatism by smoothing an irregular cornea into a more normal shape.

Hazy vision can be from many things including swelling, infiltrates, refractive error, internal eye problems and corneal haze.
Corneal haze is a medical term where the clear cornea becomes somewhat opaque and this can interfere with vision in some cases. This type of haze was common after PRK due to the healing response but is much less likely due to newer and better lasers and medical treatment after the PRK procedure. A major change is the usage of Mitomycin C off label to reduce post operative corneal haze.
Haze can also occur with LASIK, although due to the location of the treatment, it is much less likely than with PRK and thus the Mito C is not required.
Again, patients complaints of hazy vision needs to be distinguished from true corneal haze which is a medical condition.

Haze is now less common withthe advent of new laser technologies and the use of mitomycin C. PRK has the advantage of being a safer procedure than LASIK. There are no flap complications, less dry eye problems, and less night vision problems. LASIK does offer a much faster return to vision.

Haze or a slight clouding of the cornea, or the outer surface of the eye, is a complication more commonly associated following PRK. With newer lasers and medicines to prevent haze, this is not commonly seen in 2008. The risk of haze to the cornea is less often noted with LASIK. However, it is important to discuss the risks as well as the benefits of these procedures with your laser vision specialist to determine which procedure is best for you!