LASIK
Why We Recommend PRK
PRK Is Safer
Unlike LASIK, PRK does not involve the creation of a corneal flap. This greatly reduces the chances of complications.
PRK Has Wider Candidacy
Patients with thin corneas and patients with especially active lifestyles may not qualify for LASIK, but they will likely qualify for PRK.
PRK Is Just as Effective
Just like LASIK, PRK can correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism, giving you 20/20 vision or better.
Request a Consultation
If you are interested in laser vision correction, we invite you to schedule a consultation with the team at Eye Physicians and Surgeons, P.A., in Wilmington, DE.
For over 30 years, we have been the premier eye care practice in Delaware. With an expert team of opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists, we can meet all of your vision needs.
You can request your PRK consultation by filling out our online form or by giving us a call.
Call Us: (302) 652-3353
Real 5-Star Reviews
Stephanie Baker
2020
Dr. Minkovitz is a SUPER STAR! He is smart, knowledgeable, experienced, nice, caring, patient plus funny and charming. He even called me on the evening of my surgery to make sure that I was okay. I hope to be with him for the rest of my life. Look no further. Trust in the best! I’m sure glad that I did
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Pamela Rizzo
2019
I have been going to Dr. Minkovitz for my eye care for over 14 years. He always takes the time to answer any of my concerns about my vision. I could not ask for a more professional doctor. But also a very caring physician. Highly recommend him if you are looking for an eye physician.
View On GoogleHow PRK Works
PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), like LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), is a surgical procedure that uses a laser to reshape the cornea. By reshaping the cornea, we can correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism.
Where PRK and LASIK differ is in the way the cornea is refined. During LASIK, the surgeon will create a flap in the outer layer of the cornea (the epithelium) and fold it back to access the inner corneal tissue. After using the laser to reshape the tissue, the flap is closed.
On the other hand, during PRK surgery, the epithelium is removed entirely. After removing the epithelium, the surgeon uses the laser to reshape the cornea, just like during LASIK. To allow the eye to heal and the epithelium to regrow, patients are fitted with a special bandage like a contact lens after the surgery.
Why No-Flap Surgery Is Better
Dr. Minkovitz exclusively performs no-flap laser procedures like PRK or Epi-LASIK because he considers them to be far safer than LASIK. The additional step of creating a corneal flap introduces unnecessary complexity to the surgery and puts the eye at risk.
Besides the risks of the LASIK procedure itself, there are also increased risks to the eye during recovery from LASIK, including:
- If the flap does not heal properly, the eye can become infected and vision can be altered.
- Many patients experience persistent dry eye during recovery from LASIK, which can be permanent in some cases.
- If you were to suffer some kind of injury or blow to the head, the flap could become dislocated or wrinkled, which is why patients with active lifestyles or professions should be especially wary of LASIK.
Although LASIK can produce 20/20 vision, the team at Eye Physicians and Surgeons in Wilmington, Delaware, feels strongly that the procedure exposes our patients to needless risk when safer alternatives are just as effective.
Doesn't PRK Recovery Take Longer?
In the past, yes, but not anymore. Dr. Minkovitz uses the most advanced techniques, technologies, and medications at his laser eye center in Wilmington, Delaware. Thanks to his experience and expertise, PRK recovery can actually be quicker than LASIK recovery.
Meet Your Laser Eye Surgeon Jeffrey Minkovitz, M.D.
Dr. Minkovitz is one of the most respected and accomplished ophthalmologists in Delaware. His specialties include laser surgery for cataracts and laser vision correction.
After graduating from Harvard University and the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Dr. Minkovitz completed residencies and fellowships at some of the country's finest institutions. During this time, he actually participated in the early research of PRK surgery. He was one of the first doctors to perform this revolutionary procedure, offering it to his Wilmington patients shortly after it was approved by the FDA in 1996.
In 2016, Dr. Minkovitz founded Laser Vision Delaware, LLC, a state-of-the-art facility featuring the state's newest WaveLight® Allegretto Wave® Eye-Q excimer laser. He can use this cutting-edge technology to safely and predictably correct your vision.
"Off of a referral from a family member, I decided to go for a corrective eye surgery review with Dr. Minkovitz. He walked me through my options (PRK vs. LASIK). A month later, Dr. Minkovitz performed PRK corrective eye surgery on me. The results are outstanding!" Micah S., 5-Star Review
Helpful Financing
Unfortunately, vision correction procedures like LASIK and PRK are currently considered elective and not covered by insurance. To help our patients experience the life-changing effects of laser vision surgery, we accept CareCredit® financing.
CareCredit allows qualifying patients to pay for vision procedures through no-interest or low-interest monthly payment plans. If you would like to know more about our financing options, please give us a call.
Vision Correction Can Change Your Life
If you've worn corrective lenses for most of your life, you may not even realize what you are missing out on.
After laser surgery with Dr. Minkovitz, many patients can:
- Read, type, and drive without corrective lenses.
- Save hundreds of dollars a year on contact lenses and eyeglasses.
- Live a more active lifestyle without worrying about breaking their lenses.
If you're on the fence about correcting your vision, we encourage you to contact us for a consultation. When you visit our Wilmington office, our doctors will determine your candidacy and answer all of your questions.
