How Does Aftercare Differ With LASIK And PRK/LASEK?

The main difference between LASIK and PRK or LASEK is in the healing time.  However, all treatments have the same refractive results after approximately three months. In the early phases after treatment patients who are treated with LASIK show significantly improved sight after about three hours.  The cornea heals very quickly because only the edges of the flap need to seal – hence vision is restored almost immediately.  However with PRK/LASEK, there is initially a big improvement in vision followed by a slight deterioration and then continuous improvement. This is because the surface layer needs to re-grow over the surface of the eye and that process takes 7 to 14 days.

Postoperative instructions differ between LASIK and PRK / LASEK. This includes the eye drops patients will be instructed to use, the frequency of aftercare appointments in the first week following surgery, and the types of activities to avoid in the first month after surgery.

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Related questions:

(Please note: Some of the pages below may not yet be available but will be published soon.)

• 1  What should I do if I feel pain or soreness after surgery?
• 2. In what cases would I need to have 24/7 access to the surgeon by mobile phone?
• 3  What should I do if my eyes are blurry after treatment?

Related pages:

• Page about “Aftercare“

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After reaching the stage of total frustration with wet glasses on dog walks and inability to apply make-up, I enquired about laser eye treatment. My life was changed – clarity is amazing, reading in bed possible now and if feels nothing less than miraculous! 

-Ann Warn