TransPRK vs LASIK

TransPRK

TransPRK (Transepithelial PhotoRefractive Keratectomy) is an Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA) procedure, meaning that there is no cutting to create a flap, allowing the laser to access and reshape the cornea. Instead the laser simply ablates (surgically removes) the outermost layer of cells on the surface of the eye.

What makes TransPRK different from other ASA procedures such as traditional PRK and Epi-LASIK, is that there is nothing actually physically touching your eye (besides the clamp to gently keep your eye open, of course) in order to remove the surface cells.

TransPRK was made possible with the creation of the Schwind Amaris 1050RS excimer (gas) laser in 2013, and is the much improved version of traditional PRK, which was the very first laser vision correction method introduced. PRK has been around since the early 1990s, and through the decades we have seen multiple iterations of ASA procedures, leading up to what we have today with TransPRK.

LASIK

LASIK (Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis) is a flap-based laser vision correction surgery that can correct myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

Introduced in the early 1990s. This flap-based laser vision correction procedure has become one of the most popular and widely-known procedures for correcting refractive errors. It is so well known that the term “lasik” is used to refer to basically any type of laser vision correction.

With LASIK, a thin corneal tissue (flap), is created on the outer layer of the cornea. The flap is then folded back to expose the underlying corneal stroma tissue, which is then reshaped with an excimer laser to correct the refractive error.

At Clearvision, we provide Femto-LASIK, a bladeless form of the LASIK procedure. The flap is created with a fast and precise femtosecond laser, instead of a blade, thus providing a more comfortable and safe experience.

TransPRK

• Hyperopia (difficulty seeing objects up close)
• Myopia (difficulty seeing objects at long distances)
• Presbyopia (difficulty focusing on objects up close, in older age a.k.a. lao hua yan)
• Astigmatism (distorted, blurry vision at any distance)

LASIK

• Hyperopia (difficulty seeing objects up close)
• Myopia (difficulty seeing objects at long distances)
• Presbyopia (difficulty focusing on objects up close, in older age a.k.a. lao hua yan)
• Astigmatism (distorted, blurry vision at any distance)

TransPRK

Ideally, corneal thickness should be at least 485 microns thick.

Corneal cross-linking (CXL) is advisable as an adjunct treatment if your cornea is thin, or you have high astigmatism and/or high myopia (more than -8 diopters [800 degrees]). This procedure strengthens the cornea to prevent it from changing its shape in the future.

If you have myopia, your prescription must not be more than -10 diopters (1,000 degrees).

For hyperopia, not more than -4 diopters (400 degrees).

For astigmatism, not more than -5 dioptres (500 degrees).

LASIK

Ideally, corneal thickness should be at least 500 microns thick.

Corneal cross-linking (CXL) is advisable as an adjunct treatment if your cornea is thin, or you have high astigmatism and/or high myopia (more than -8 diopters [800 degrees]). This procedure strengthens the cornea to prevent it from changing its shape in the future.

If you have myopia, your prescription must not be more than -8 diopters (800 degrees).

For hyperopia, not more than -4 diopters (400 degrees).

For astigmatism, not more than -5 dioptres (500 degrees).

TransPRK

Length of surgery: about 5 minutes per eye

1. Put on your surgical gown and other PPE
2. Lie flat and get comfortable on the operating bed.
3. A clamp is then used to keep your eyelids open
4. Numbing eye drops are added so that your eye does not feel anything
5. Your eye is lined up in the optimal position for the laser
6. Stare straight at the dim green light
7. The laser starts ablate the surface cells (you might smell a slight burning smell)
8. The laser then starts to reshape the cornea
9. Your vision has been corrected!
10. A bandage contact lens is placed over the eye to allow the surface cells to safely heal (to be removed after 5 days by the doctor)

LASIK

Length of surgery: about 10 minutes per eye

You will be able to see immediately after the surgery. But as the surface cells heal back in the next few days, your vision will get blurry.

It will take 5 days for the cells to fully heal and for the blur to go away, after which you can resume your day to day activities and go back to work.

You will be given 5 days of medical leave.

Your vision will be blurry immediately after the surgery. But your vision will clear up the next day, and continue to get less blurry in the next few days.

It will take just 2 – 3 days for your eye to heal and for the blur to go away, after which you can resume your day to day activities and go back to work.

You will be given 3 days of medical leave.

TransPRK

Full visual recovery, where your vision has totally stabilised and your eyes are consistently seeing very clearly, takes between 1 – 3 months (patients with high myopia may take longer).

After surgery, you will need to have your eyes checked up at these specific times post-surgery:

• 1 day
• 3 days
• 1 week
• 1 month
• 3 months
• 6 months (if you had high myopia)

LASIK

Full visual recovery, where your vision has totally stabilised and your eyes are consistently seeing very clearly, takes between 1 – 2 months (patients with high myopia may take longer).

After surgery, you will need to have your eyes checked up at these specific times post-surgery:

• 1 day
• 1 week
• 1 month
• 3 months

Post-TransPRK, you will be allowed to resume these activities after a specific period of time:

Long sessions of reading books, screens and watching TV: 5 days

Driving: 1 week

Applying eye makeup : 1 week

Eyes having to avoid water while showering: 1 week

Swimming and other water-related activities: 2 weeks

Light sports: 5 days

Contact sports: 2 weeks

Post-LASIK, you will be allowed to resume these activities after a specific period of time:

Long sessions of reading books, screens and watching TV: 24 hours

Driving: 24 hours

Applying eye makeup : 1 week

Eyes having to avoid water while showering: 1 week

Swimming and other water-related activities: 1 month

Light sports: 5 days

Contact sports: Not advisable as the cornea flap may dislodge

TransPRK

• No flap-related complications
• Low risk of dry eyes
• Ability to participate in contact sports
• No surgical instruments touching the eye
• Wide range of suitability criteria (high myopia, thin corneas etc.)
• Length of surgery is short (5 mins per eye)

LASIK

• Little to no discomfort during recovery
• Quick recovery, with just 2 – 3 days of downtime
• Wide range of suitability criteria (high myopia, thin corneas etc.)

TransPRK

• Some discomfort early on during the healing process (mild itchiness or soreness on the surface of the eye)
• Slower recovery of surface cells, resulting in 5 days of downtime
• More follow up reviews required

LASIK

• Corneal flap creation
• 1-2% risk of flap complications (flap dislodgement, flap wrinkles, flap inflammations and flap interface issues)
• Risk of dry eyes
• Risk of night vision issues
• Impacts corneal stability

TransPRK

S$3,988 for both eyes, inclusive of GST

LASIK

S$3,788 for both eyes, inclusive of GST