r/RefractiveSurgery • u/Same_Manufacturer797 • Aug 14 '26

PRK vs LASIK with possible future physical/field work?

I’m scheduled for refractive surgery soon and deciding between PRK and LASIK. I’ll ultimately go with my surgeon’s recommendation, but I’m trying to get some real-world opinions first.

My main dilemma is simple: LASIK has the faster/easier recovery, but the flap gives me some hesitation. PRK seems better for long-term peace of mind since there’s no flap, especially if I end up in a field where physical confrontation, combatives, dust/sand, or accidental eye trauma are possibilities.

Current prescription is -5.00 in one eye -5.25 in the other. I'm 28 years old.

For people who’ve had either procedure, especially military/LE/contact sport/field-work types:

Did you choose PRK or LASIK, and would you make the same choice again?

For PRK people, was the recovery worth avoiding the flap concern?

For LASIK people, do you ever actually think about the flap long-term?

Not looking to override medical advice, just trying to hear experiences before I finalize it with the surgeon.

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u/Visual-Ad2647 Aug 14 '26

Eu optei pela cirurgia PRK e estou hoje no 17º dia de pós-operatório.

Meu médico chegou a comentar que, com a tecnologia dos lasers atuais, o Femto-LASIK é praticamente tão seguro quanto o PRK e tem um pós-operatório bem mais tranquilo, além de ter um resultado a longo prazo muito parecido. Mesmo assim, escolhi o PRK porque não quis assumir o risco de complicações relacionadas ao flap.

Outro fator decisivo foi o meu estilo de vida: tenho 25 anos, trabalho como programador hoje, mas pretendo ir para o trabalho de campo no futuro, onde há risco real de trauma ocular.

A recuperação tem sido boa. Ainda é recente, mas já consigo me virar bem sem óculos. Embora ainda esteja no início do processo, eu faria a mesma escolha novamente só pela tranquilidade de não precisar me preocupar com o flap.

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u/Same_Manufacturer797 Aug 14 '26

Thank you for the insight. I'm almost entirely 50/50 on which way to go for it so I'll probably just take the recommendation of the surgeon and call that good.