Your eye health
“What do my measurements tell you?”
Ask which findings support the recommendation, which create concern, and whether additional testing could change the plan.
The right procedure starts with the right questions
Understand the differences.
Find your own direction.
LASIK, PRK, and implantable lenses work in different ways. Your eye measurements, prescription, and health determine which options are worth discussing.
Side by side
Explore your options.
Select a procedure to understand its approach and tradeoffs. This comparison is educational; it cannot tell you which treatment is right for your eyes.
01 / A corneal laser procedure
LASIK.
A reshaped perspective.
A thin corneal flap allows an excimer laser to reshape tissue beneath the surface. The flap is then repositioned. The goal is to reduce reliance on corrective lenses.
Discuss LASIK ↗- The approach
- Laser reshaping under a corneal flap. The change to the cornea is permanent.
- What matters
- Stable prescription, suitable corneal measurements, healthy tear film, and realistic expectations.
- Early recovery
- Vision can fluctuate and eyes may feel irritated. Your clinician sets the follow-up schedule and return-to-activity guidance.
- Tradeoffs
- Dry eye, glare, halos, residual prescription, and flap-related problems are possible. Serious complications can affect vision permanently.
02 / A surface laser procedure
PRK.
A different path.
PRK reshapes the cornea after the surface epithelial layer is removed. There is no LASIK flap. The surface heals as part of recovery, which changes the early patient experience.
Discuss PRK ↗- The approach
- An excimer laser works at the corneal surface. A temporary protective contact lens may be used during early healing.
- What matters
- Your corneal evaluation and circumstances may make a surface procedure worth considering. PRK is not automatically appropriate for every thin cornea.
- Early recovery
- Discomfort and a slower return of functional vision can require more planning than LASIK. Healing and stabilization vary.
- Tradeoffs
- Dryness, glare, halos, haze, infection, undercorrection or overcorrection, and loss of vision are possible.
03 / An implantable lens procedure
ICL.
Another way to focus.
An implantable collamer lens is placed inside the eye in front of the natural lens. It does not reshape the cornea, but it is intraocular surgery with a different risk profile.
Discuss implantable lenses ↗- The approach
- An additional lens corrects eligible prescriptions while leaving the eye's natural lens in place.
- What matters
- Prescription, age, space within the eye, and eye health must satisfy the requirements of the specific lens and your surgeon's assessment.
- Early recovery
- Aftercare includes monitoring eye pressure, healing, and lens position. Long-term eye examinations remain necessary.
- Tradeoffs
- Risks include infection, increased eye pressure, cataract, glare, halos, and retinal complications. Removal is another surgery, not a guarantee of returning to your previous vision.
“No surgery” is an option, too.
Glasses and contact lenses may remain the most appropriate way to correct your vision. Some patients need eye-surface treatment or time for their prescription to stabilize before revisiting surgery. The purpose of an assessment is to find a suitable path, including choosing not to proceed.
Learn more from the FDA's LASIK overview ↗ and implantable lens risk information ↗. Your clinician should explain the specific device's patient labeling.
What a comparison chart can't answer
Three conversations
to have in the exam room.
Your daily life
“What could still be difficult?”
Discuss night driving, reading, screen work, sports, and your tolerance for glasses. A vision chart doesn't capture every visual need.
Your alternatives
“What if I wait—or do nothing?”
Understand the advantages and limitations of every suitable option, including keeping your current correction.
A conversation is a good place to begin
See your options.
Then see what's next.
Explore the consultation experience, ask better questions, and move forward at your own pace.
Explore a consultation ↗ Interactive demo · No appointment is reserved