LASIK vs PRK: Which Vision Correction Surgery Is Right for You?

When you’re tired of glasses or contacts, LASIK, a common laser eye surgery that reshapes the cornea using a flap. Also known as laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, it’s the most popular vision correction procedure in the U.S. But PRK, an older laser method that removes the outer corneal layer instead of creating a flap. Also known as photorefractive keratectomy, it’s still widely used for people who can’t get LASIK. Both fix nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism—but they’re not the same. The biggest difference? How your eye heals.

With LASIK, a surgeon cuts a thin flap in your cornea, lifts it, zaps the tissue underneath with a laser, then lays the flap back down. Recovery is fast—most people see clearly within 24 hours. But if your cornea is too thin, or you play contact sports, or you have dry eyes, that flap can be a problem. PRK skips the flap entirely. The outer skin of the cornea is gently removed and regrows naturally over days. That means slower healing—up to a week of blurry vision and discomfort—but no flap to dislodge. That’s why pilots, military personnel, and athletes often choose PRK. It’s safer long-term for active lifestyles.

Neither surgery is a magic fix. Both carry risks: glare at night, dry eyes, undercorrection, or rare vision loss. Your eye doctor will check your cornea thickness, pupil size, and overall eye health before recommending one over the other. If you’re over 40, you might still need reading glasses afterward—no surgery fixes presbyopia. And if you’ve had previous eye surgery or autoimmune disease, you might not qualify for either.

What you’ll find below are real, practical guides that dig into the details most websites skip. You’ll see how LASIK vs PRK stacks up in recovery time, cost, and long-term outcomes. We’ll break down who gets turned down for each procedure, what side effects actually happen, and how to know if you’re a good candidate. No sales pitches. Just facts from people who’ve been through it—and the doctors who’ve seen the results.