I had an eye exam in Korea, and my doctor told me PRK (LASEK) would be better for me than LASIK. Can you walk me through the process, from the first exam to surgery to recovery?
A: Great question, and I have a personal stake in the answer.
First, an interesting fact. Korea is the only country in the world where LASEK is more popular than LASIK. I believe that’s because Korean patients and physicians tend to be more patient and better informed than most. Choosing LASEK over LASIK means choosing less dry eye, less night glare, and better long-term safety, in exchange for a slightly slower recovery.
I know this trade-off firsthand. I’m the only eye surgeon in the world who has had LASIK in one eye and LASEK in the other. I’ve also performed more LASEK procedures than any other surgeon in the United States. That’s not a coincidence. I helped invent the LASEK procedure while working as an eye surgeon at Harvard from 1993 to 1996, alongside Dr. Talamo and Dr. Abad.
One important note: PRK and LASEK are not the same procedure, even though people often use the terms interchangeably. I performed my last PRK case in 1999. LASEK is a distinct and more refined technique.
The best way to walk through your specific case, from your initial exam through surgery and post-op care, is to talk with me directly. Call our office to book a free in-person consultation, or set up a $100 remote consultation if you’re not local. I’d rather explain this in a real conversation than in writing. I look forward to speaking with you, or better yet, seeing you in person.
— Dr. Chynn
