Am I a LASIK Candidate?
Want to see if LASIK is right for you? Take our quick candidacy test!
LASIK & PRK
Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK) are the two most common forms of vision correction. In both LASIK and PRK, a gentle excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea for crisp, clear vision. How the eye is prepared for the excimer laser is the primary difference between LASIK and PRK.
LASIK Procedure
In a LASIK procedure, the eye is prepared for the excimer laser treatment by the creation of a thin “flap” on the outer layer of the cornea. This flap can be created in two ways; through the use of a handheld blade called a microkeratome, or through a precise laser called a femtosecond laser.
Southern Eye Center is proud to offer the most recent technology advancements in blade-free laser vision correction. Our femtosecond laser allows us to add unrivaled precision and customization to your laser vision treatment.
PRK Procedure
In a PRK procedure, the outermost layer of the cornea, called the epithelium, is gently removed prior to treatment with the excimer laser. After the PRK procedure, the epithelium grows back naturally as part of the recovery process.
PRK is often the preferred laser procedure for patients who don’t quality for LASIK due to thinner corneas, patients who have an occupation with a higher likelihood of ocular trauma (athletes, firefighters, etc.), or patients who desire to have laser vision correction without the corneal flap used in LASIK.
Ideal Candidates
The initial screening process is vital for ensuring you are an ideal candidate for LASIK or PRK. At Southern Eye Center, we invest a great deal of time on the initial screening process to measure your eye and determine your best options. LASIK and PRK are currently approved for patients over the age of 18 who suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
In addition to testing the clarity of your vision, we will also test your ocular pressure, vision acuity, and corneal thickness. These tests allow our surgical team to fully customize your treatment to create the best possible vision results.
To learn more about whether you may be a candidate for LASIK, take our candidacy self-test.