Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) Laser Vision Correction Surgery

"PRK or photorefractive keratectomy used to be the most common laser eye surgery procedure until Lasik came along. LASEK is a derivative of PRK whereby the top layer of the cornea, the epithelium is loosened with 20% alcohol. This removed and then replaced. The thinking is that LASEK is less painful than PRK and less likely to produce long term haze. This has not been found to be true, however the procedure is popular especially in centres on the high street.
Both PRK and LASEK are more painful than LASIK or IntraLASIK (as performed at Centre for Sight) and visual recovery can take a few days to a week compared with usually the following day with IntraLASIK."