LASIK & PRK

Say Goodbye to Glasses and Contacts. Enhance Clarity with Freedom.

More than 25 million people worldwide have undergone LASIK, one of the most widely performed and extensively studied vision-correction procedures in medicine. PRK is its predecessor: the original laser vision-correction procedure, which reshapes the cornea from the surface without creating a flap. Both procedures use the same type of laser and pursue the same goal, but they take different approaches.

At Aviva, the choice between LASIK and PRK begins well before treatment. Dr. Thornton carefully evaluates the shape and thickness of your corneas, as well as the health of your tear film, to determine which procedure is most appropriate for your eyes. You will receive a clear, honest recommendation based on what best supports your vision and long-term eye health.

Ideal candidates

LASIK may be an excellent option if:

Your prescription has been stable for at least one year
Your corneas have sufficient thickness and a healthy shape
You do not have significant dry eye or other active eye disease
You are generally between your early twenties and mid-fifties

PRK may be the better choice if:

Your corneas are thinner or shaped in a way that makes creating a LASIK flap less advisable
Your work or activities involve a meaningful risk of impact to the eye, such as military service, first-responder work, martial arts, or contact sports
Dry-eye risk factors make a flap-based procedure less desirable
You have previously been told that you are not a LASIK candidate. In some cases, PRK may be appropriate for eyes that are not well suited to LASIK

During your consultation, Dr. Thornton will evaluate your corneas in detail and recommend the procedure that best fits your eyes and visual goals. If neither LASIK nor PRK is appropriate, the conversation does not end there. Options such as EVO ICL or lens-based vision correction like refractive lens exchange (dysfunctional lens replacement) may still offer an excellent path forward for patients who are not candidates for laser vision correction.

Benefits

The benefits patients mention most are often the everyday ones.

Waking up and seeing the alarm clock clearly
Starting the morning without reaching for glasses or putting in contact lenses
Enjoying a busy day without dry, tired lenses
Swimming, traveling, exercising in the rain, or falling asleep without contact-lens logistics

Many LASIK patients notice clearer vision within the first day after treatment. PRK recovery is more gradual, but its long-term visual outcomes can be similarly strong.

Both procedures have helped appropriate candidates enjoy excellent uncorrected vision for decades.

For patients whose corneas or lifestyles make a flapless procedure the better fit, PRK preserves more corneal tissue and avoids creating a corneal flap.

The procedure

LASIK, step by step

Your measurements are confirmed.
An optional mild oral relaxant is taken beforehand to help you relax.
Numbing drops take away the discomfort. You may feel light pressure at certain moments.
The first laser creates a very thin protective flap in the cornea. This takes a few seconds per eye.
The second laser then reshapes the tissue beneath the flap according to your personalized prescription.
Advanced eye-tracking technology follows your eye throughout treatment.
The flap is gently returned to its original position, where it begins to seal naturally without stitches.
You sit up and blink. Many patients notice that the room already appears sharper.
From the first drop to the last, you remain comfortable.
The procedure itself is typically completed in less than 30 minutes.

How PRK differs

Instead of a flap, the cornea’s thin outer layer is gently lifted away. This layer is renewable. Your eye regrows it naturally within days.

The same laser used in LASIK reshapes the corneal tissue to your personalized prescription.

A soft bandage contact lens protects the surface while it heals. You will notice your vision becoming steadily clearer every day.

The trade-off is patience during the first week. The reward is a cornea that never has a flap.

Recovery

After LASIK

The first hours. Rest with your eyes closed. Scratchiness and watering are normal and brief.
The next morning. Most patients see clearly, pass the driving standard, and feel ready for work.
The first week. Prescription drops continue. Avoid rubbing your eyes and swimming while the flap seals. Your vision continues to improve every day.
By one month. Your vision has settled at its new normal, confirmed at your follow-up visits.

After PRK

Days one to five. The regrowing surface can feel scratchy and light-sensitive. Audiobooks are often more comfortable than screens.
Days five to seven. The bandage lens comes out at your follow-up visit. Most patients see clearly and return to everything.
The first month. Vision sharpens steadily.
By three months. Your vision reaches the same destination LASIK patients enjoy. It just took the scenic route.

Questions, answered

LASIK or PRK: Which One Will I Get?

Usually, you do not have to choose. Your eyes do. Dr. Thornton will study the health of your corneas, learn about your lifestyle and goals, and guide you toward the option that fits you best.

Does It Hurt?

No. Numbing drops keep both procedures comfortable. Most patients feel only a few seconds of light pressure, nothing more.

With PRK, the healing days afterward can feel a bit more uncomfortable. Drops, rest, and oral medication when needed help manage this well.

What if I Blink or Move During the Procedure?

You cannot ruin your result by blinking. A gentle holder keeps your eye comfortably open, and the laser tracks your eye hundreds of times per second. If you move beyond its range, it simply pauses.

Am I Awake the Whole Time?

Yes, and that is easier than it sounds. The procedure takes less than 30 minutes, you are simply looking at a soft light, and a calming oral relaxant is available if you would like one.

How Much Downtime Should I Plan For?

LASIK: most patients see clearly and feel ready for work the next morning.

PRK: plan on three to four days away from work while the surface regrows, followed by a steady sharpening of vision over the following weeks.

How Long Do the Results Last?

The corneal reshaping is permanent. Like everyone, you may still meet reading glasses in your early forties as the eye’s natural lens ages. This is a separate change that laser correction does not cause, and Dr. Thornton will walk you through what to expect for your own eyes.

What if I’m Told I’m Not a Candidate?

Then you will hear it from us honestly, along with what would work instead. Between the EVO ICL and lens-based surgery like refractive lens exchange (dysfunctional lens replacement), most patients turned away from laser correction still have an excellent option.