PRK (or photorefractive keratectomy) is the second most popular laser eye surgery in the United States, behind LASIK. The question of PRK vs. LASIK is common for consumers interested in laser vision correction. Like LASIK, PRK uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea. But in PRK, no corneal flap is created with a microkeratome or femtosecond laser prior to the corneal reshaping.
PRK also can be performed safely on corneas that may be too thin for LASIK. Since no LASIK-style flap is required, the entire thickness of the underlying corneal stroma is available for treatment. A person who has PRK surgery rather than LASIK will have a thicker residual “stromal bed” after the excimer laser treatment.