EPIC PRK™ and LASEK Eye Surgery in Los Angeles

At Assil Gaur Eye Institute (AGEI), we’ve built on PRK’s proven foundation with our advanced all-laser approach, designed to improve patient comfort and support the healing process while preserving the tissue-saving advantages of traditional PRK. We call this improved approach EPIC PRK™.

This guide explains EPIC PRK™ in plain English and compares it with LASEK, SMILE, and LASIK. It should also help you understand how your eye anatomy, prescription, lifestyle, and long-term vision goals all play an important role in choosing the right vision correction procedure.

Every eye is unique, and our goal is to give you the information you need to make an informed decision before your personalized consultation at Assil Gaur Eye Institute. During your consultation, your AGEI surgeon will discuss with you the procedure that is best suited to your eyes and your lifestyle.

What is PRK?

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) is one of the most established and trusted forms of laser vision correction. Unlike LASIK, which creates a thin flap in the cornea, PRK is a surface procedure. In other words, the laser treatment is performed directly on the front surface of the cornea without creating a flap in the cornea.

During PRK, our surgeon gently removes the cornea’s thin outer protective layer, called the epithelium, before using an excimer laser to precisely reshape the underlying cornea and correct refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism. A soft bandage contact lens is then placed on the eye to protect the surface and support healing while the epithelium naturally grows back over the next several days.

Because PRK doesn’t require creating a corneal flap, it preserves more of the cornea’s natural structure than LASIK. This makes it an excellent option for many patients with thin corneas, certain corneal irregularities, or those who want to preserve as much healthy corneal tissue as possible.

What is LASEK?

LASEK (Laser-Assisted Subepithelial Keratectomy) is a variation of PRK that uses the same excimer laser to reshape the cornea. The primary difference is how the cornea’s thin outer layer, called the epithelium, is treated. Instead of removing it immediately, your surgeon first loosens it with a diluted alcohol solution before performing the laser treatment.

While LASEK remains an effective option for some patients, it is performed less frequently today because modern PRK offers comparable visual outcomes with a simpler surgical technique.

What is LASIK?

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is the most commonly performed laser eye surgery. Unlike PRK, LASIK begins by creating a thin flap in the cornea using a femtosecond laser. Your surgeon gently lifts the flap, reshapes the underlying cornea with an excimer laser to correct your vision, and then carefully repositions the flap, where it naturally heals.

Because the corneal surface remains largely intact, most patients experience minimal discomfort and a rapid recovery time, often returning to normal activities within a day or two. However, some patients may be better suited to a flap-free procedure such as PRK based on their corneal thickness, eye health, lifestyle, or vision goals.

What is SMILE?

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a flap-free laser vision correction procedure (like PRK) that primarily treats nearsightedness and some cases of astigmatism. A femtosecond laser creates a small disc of tissue within the cornea, which is then removed through a tiny incision. This reshapes the cornea and corrects your vision.

SMILE can be an appropriate option for select patients. However, it currently treats a narrower range of vision problems than PRK or LASIK, so it isn’t the right choice for everyone. Since SMILE has been approved, there is evidence that SMILE surgery is not performing as well as anticipated.

Introducing EPIC PRK™: The advanced evolution of PRK

EPIC PRK™ is an advanced evolution of traditional PRK developed at Assil Gaur Eye Institute by Dr. Kerry Assil, who also developed Eagle Vision LASIK and Eagle Vision Cataract. Like conventional PRK, it corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism without creating a corneal flap. The difference is in how the treatment is performed.

With traditional PRK, the cornea’s thin outer protective layer (the epithelium) is removed either mechanically or with a diluted alcohol solution before the underlying cornea is reshaped with an excimer laser. With EPIC PRK™, a customized excimer laser performs both the epithelial removal and the vision correction, making it an all-laser procedure that avoids mechanical instruments and alcohol.

By combining advanced corneal imaging with precise pupil measurements, the EPIC PRK procedure is customized to each patient’s unique eye anatomy. For appropriate candidates, this allows the laser treatment to be carefully matched to the treatment area, helping to preserve even more healthy corneal tissue than traditional PRK, while supporting a smoother healing process.

Like traditional PRK, EPIC PRK™ does not create a corneal flap, making it an excellent option for patients with thin corneas, certain corneal irregularities, or those who want to preserve as much healthy corneal tissue as possible.

Why choose PRK instead of LASIK?

Both PRK and LASIK are highly effective procedures that can provide long-lasting vision correction. The best choice depends on your eye anatomy, lifestyle, and long-term vision goals. Our AGEI team may recommend PRK over LASIK if you have:

Ultimately, neither PRK nor LASIK is universally better. The right procedure is the one that’s safest and most appropriate for your unique eyes. Assil Gaur Eye Institute’s complimentary comprehensive evaluation is the best way to determine which option is right for you.

Who may not be a good candidate for PRK or EPIC PRK?

PRK or EPIC PRK may not be recommended if you have:

• An unstable or changing glasses prescription.
• Severe nearsightedness that may be better treated with EVO ICL.
• Significant farsightedness that may be better treated with Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE).
• Advanced glaucoma or visually significant cataracts.
• Certain corneal diseases, excessive corneal scarring, or active eye infections.
• Uncontrolled diabetes or another medical condition that could affect healing.

Also, these options may not be recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, when vision and healing may be temporarily affected.

What are the limitations of PRK?

Every vision correction procedure has advantages and trade-offs. Compared with LASIK, PRK typically involves:

• A longer recovery period (though EPIC PRK tends to be less than traditional PRK) with vision continuing to improve over several weeks.
• More discomfort during the first few days while the corneal surface heals.
• A temporary risk of light sensitivity, glare, or corneal haze during healing, which is minimized by carefully following your post-operative instructions.
• As with any refractive surgery or procedure, some patients may still need glasses for certain activities later in life or require an enhancement if their vision changes over time.

EPIC PRK recovery timeline: what to expect

Recovery after PRK or EPIC PRK™ is more gradual than LASIK because the cornea’s outer protective layer needs time to heal. While everyone heals at a different pace, here’s what most patients can expect:

Following your surgeon’s post-operative instructions, using your prescribed eye drops, and protecting your eyes as they heal all play important roles in achieving the best possible outcome.

What are the long-term PRK results?

For appropriate candidates, PRK and EPIC PRK™ are designed to provide long-lasting vision correction. Because the cornea is permanently reshaped during the procedure, the results are intended to be permanent.

However, laser vision correction cannot prevent the natural aging of the eye. As you get older, it’s normal to develop presbyopia, which often requires reading glasses. You might also develop cataracts, which can affect vision later in life. These age-related changes are not a sign that your PRK procedure has “worn off.”

Many patients enjoy years, and often decades, of 20/20 vision or reduced dependence on glasses, contact lenses, or other corrective lenses after PRK. If your vision changes over time, our AGEI ophthalmologist can discuss which additional treatment or other vision correction procedure may be appropriate.

Which vision correction procedure is right for me?

Choosing between EPIC PRK™, PRK, LASEK, SMILE, and LASIK isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. The best procedure depends on your prescription, corneal thickness and shape, tear quality, overall eye health, lifestyle, and long-term vision goals.

During your comprehensive evaluation, our surgeons use advanced diagnostic testing to determine which procedure is the safest and most effective for your unique eyes. For some patients, that may be LASIK because of its quick recovery. For others, EPIC PRK™ may be the better choice. Then, there are people for whom EVO ICL or Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) may be recommended instead.

Because Assil Gaur Eye Institute offers a full range of advanced vision correction procedures, our recommendations are based on what’s best for your eyes.

Why choose Assil Gaur Eye Institute for your PRK eye surgery?

Choosing the right procedure is important, but choosing the right surgical team is just as important. At Assil Gaur Eye Institute, you’ll find nationally recognized ophthalmologists who combine decades of experience with advanced technology to deliver personalized vision correction tailored to your unique eyes.

When considering vision correction surgery, experience, technology, and personalized treatment planning all matter. Here’s what sets Assil Gaur Eye Institute apart:

• We have more than 100 years of combined ophthalmic experience and have performed over 100,000 vision correction procedures.
• Dr. Kerry Assil, Medical Director, is an internationally recognized refractive surgeon who has helped pioneer advancements in laser vision correction and has trained more than 14,000 eye surgeons worldwide.
• Dr. Avneet K. Sodhi Gaur, Dr. Assil’s hand-picked partner, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist specializing in LASIK, cataract surgery, and glaucoma. She completed advanced fellowship training at nationally renowned institutions, including Tufts Medical Center, the New England Eye Center, and Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston.
• We use state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, including detailed views of the retina, and customized treatment planning designed to match the safest and most effective procedure to each patient’s unique eyes.
• Our team is trusted by professional athletes, physicians, entertainers, and patients from around the world who seek the most trustworthy and advanced vision correction.

No matter which vision correction option you choose, our goal is the same: to help you achieve the clearest vision possible with a treatment plan that’s personalized to your eyes and delivered with exceptional expertise and compassionate care.

Written by The AGEI Educational Team

The Assil Gaur Eye Institute Education Team is dedicated to providing accurate, accessible, and patient-centered eye health information to support not only our patients, but the broader community as well. Working closely with our physicians and specialists, the team helps develop educational content designed to empower patients to better understand their vision, eye conditions, treatment options, and advances in ophthalmology. Our goal is to make complex medical topics easier to understand while upholding the highest standards of clinical accuracy, trust, and patient care.

The Assil Gaur Eye Institute Education Team is dedicated to providing accurate, accessible, and patient-centered eye health information to support not only our patients, but the broader community as well. Working closely with our physicians and specialists, the team helps develop educational content designed to empower patients to better understand their vision, eye conditions, treatment options, and advances in ophthalmology. Our goal is to make complex medical topics easier to understand while upholding the highest standards of clinical accuracy, trust, and patient care.

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Kerry Assil

Kerry K. Assil, MD, is regarded as one of the world’s foremost experts in refractive surgery, having made significant advances in the field with his numerous inventions. Additionally he has the unique distinction of having trained thousands of eye surgeons in the latest refractive surgical techniques. Dr. Assil has authored more than one hundred textbooks, textbook chapters and articles on refractive surgery and has appeared regularly on major television network news programs as a pioneer in refractive surgery. He also leads educational forums for other eye care professionals, which have included featured lectureships at Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University and Tokyo University.

The Assil Gaur Eye Institute Education Team is dedicated to providing accurate, accessible, and patient-centered eye health information to support not only our patients, but the broader community as well. Working closely with our physicians and specialists, the team helps develop educational content designed to empower patients to better understand their vision, eye conditions, treatment options, and advances in ophthalmology. Our goal is to make complex medical topics easier to understand while upholding the highest standards of clinical accuracy, trust, and patient care.