No Sugar-Coating

An honest comparison of refractive surgeries to help you understand your
options. Here’s what you need to know.

	Photorefractive Keractectomy (PRK)	LASIK	Small Incision Lenticule Extraction	Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL)
General Classification	Surface ablation procedure	Flap Procedure	Flapless, keyhole procedure Commonly known as Brand Name: SMILE or SILK	Lens implant (non-laser)
Process	No flap is created. The surface layer (epithelium) is removed. Excimer laser reshapes the corneal tissue underneath.	A flap is created using a femtosecond laser or microkeratome. The excimer laser reshapes the corneal tissue beneath the flap, which is then repositioned.	No flap. A femtosecond laser creates a lenticule (small disc of tissue), which is removed through a small incision to reshape the cornea.	A soft, implantable lens is placed inside the eye, behind the iris and in front of the natural lens. No corneal tissue is removed.
Suitability	Good for patients with thin corneas, dry eyes, or those at risk of trauma (e.g. contact sports).	Most common option. Suitable for moderate myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.	Suitable for moderate myopia and some astigmatism. Often preferred for patients with dry eyes.	Suitable for patients with high myopia or thin corneas who may not be eligible for laser surgery.
Who should avoid	Those needing fast visual recovery or with slow healing tendencies.	Patients with thin corneas or at high risk of eye trauma.	Not ideal for high hyperopia or very thin corneas.	Not suitable if there's a history of eye inflammation, certain anatomical issues, or advanced cataracts.
Good things	No flap complications. Less impact on corneal strength.	Fast visual recovery. Painless. Widely performed with predictable outcomes.	Minimally invasive. No flap. Less impact on dry eye.	Reversible. No corneal tissue removed. Can correct high prescriptions.
Bad things	Longer recovery. More discomfort in first few days.	Flap-related risks. Not ideal for trauma-prone individuals.	Not suitable for all prescriptions. Less long-term data than LASIK.	Involves an internal implant. Slight surgical risks like cataract or increased eye pressure.
Surgery duration	~10–15 mins per eye	~10–15 mins per eye	~10–15 mins per eye	~20–30 mins per eye
Recover time	5–7 days for basic vision. Weeks for full clarity.	Most vision returns within 24–48 hours.	Functional vision in 2–3 days. Improves over a week.	2–3 days for basic vision. Full results in weeks.
Possible complications	Haze, delayed healing, discomfort, light sensitivity.	Flap dislocation, dry eyes, glare or halos.	Incomplete lenticule removal, mild glare or halos.	Cataract formation, lens position issues, elevated eye pressure.
Retreatment if any prescription is left	Yes, typically via PRK.	Yes, may lift flap or use PRK depending on time since surgery.	Yes, with PRK or LASIK depending on residual cornea.	Yes, by adjusting or replacing the lens.