PRK Surgery
The same excimer laser as LASIK, with no corneal flap. Often the best option for thinner corneas and certain lifestyles and professions.
Not Every Eye Is a LASIK Eye
LASIK is excellent, but it isn't the right procedure for every patient. Berg-Feinfield offers the full range of refractive alternatives, so the recommendation is always based on your eyes, not on what is simplest to offer.
What Are LASIK Alternatives?
Three proven alternatives — PRK, EVO ICL, and Refractive Lens Exchange — each suited to a different patient profile. Berg-Feinfield offers all three, alongside bladeless LASIK, under one roof at five Los Angeles area locations.
EVO ICL
An implantable collamer lens placed inside the eye. No corneal tissue is removed, and the lens can be removed if needed.
Refractive Lens Exchange
Replaces the eye's natural lens with an advanced IOL. Corrects vision and eliminates any future risk of cataracts.
Who May Not Be a LASIK Candidate?
LASIK candidacy depends on factors not every patient meets: corneal thickness, prescription range, dry eye severity, age, and lifestyle all play a role. Patients who are not right for LASIK are redirected, not pressured.
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Thin or Irregular Corneas
LASIK requires sufficient corneal tissue. Patients with thinner corneas may be better candidates for PRK or EVO ICL.
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High Prescriptions
Very high myopia or hyperopia may exceed the safe range for corneal reshaping. EVO ICL handles prescriptions LASIK cannot.
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Significant Dry Eye
LASIK can worsen existing dry eye. EVO ICL and RLE do not affect the corneal nerve supply the same way.
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Age & Presbyopia
Patients over 45 developing presbyopia may benefit more from Refractive Lens Exchange, which addresses near and distance vision at once.
PRK — Photorefractive Keratectomy
PRK and LASIK use the same excimer laser to reshape the cornea and correct refractive error. The difference is how the cornea is accessed: LASIK creates a corneal flap, while PRK treats the corneal surface directly after the outer epithelial layer is removed.
Because PRK removes no internal tissue to create a flap, it is the preferred choice for patients with thinner corneas, those whose profession or sport makes flap-related risk a concern, and patients with corneal surface irregularities. The tradeoff is recovery time — typically one to two weeks for initial clarity versus one to two days with LASIK — but final outcomes are equivalent for most patients. At Berg-Feinfield, PRK is performed with the same iDESIGN 2.0 wavefront-guided platform used for LASIK.
- Thinner corneas not thick enough for LASIK flap creation
- Military, law enforcement, or contact-sport athletes where flap risk is a concern
- Patients with corneal surface irregularities
- Those seeking all-laser correction without an internal incision
EVO ICL — Implantable Collamer Lens
EVO ICL takes a fundamentally different approach. Rather than reshaping the cornea with laser energy, a small, flexible corrective lens is placed inside the eye — between the iris and the natural crystalline lens — where it stays permanently but can be removed if needed.
Because no corneal tissue is removed, EVO ICL is an excellent option for higher prescriptions beyond the safe range for laser correction, borderline corneal thickness, or significant dry eye disease. The lens has a built-in UV filter, and many patients report exceptional visual quality — particularly in low light — thanks to a larger optical zone than corneal laser procedures. Berg-Feinfield offers EVO ICL at its Beverly Hills location and serves patients throughout the Los Angeles area.
- High myopia up to −20.00 D, outside LASIK's range
- Thin corneas not suitable for laser reshaping
- Moderate to significant dry eye disease
- Younger patients who want a reversible option
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
Refractive Lens Exchange replaces the eye's natural crystalline lens with a precision artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The procedure is identical to cataract surgery, but performed electively — before cataracts develop — to correct refractive error and reduce dependence on glasses or contacts.
Because the natural lens is removed and replaced, the eye can never develop a cataract afterward, combining refractive correction and lifetime cataract prevention in a single procedure. Advanced multifocal and extended depth-of-focus IOLs can address both distance and near vision simultaneously. RLE is typically best for patients in their mid-40s and beyond who are beginning to develop presbyopia and want a comprehensive solution LASIK alone cannot fully provide.
- Patients 45+ developing presbyopia who want to reduce reading-glasses dependence
- Very high prescriptions outside the range of laser correction
- Early lens changes or beginning cataracts
- Those seeking one procedure for distance and near vision
How Do You Know Which Procedure Is Right?
The only reliable way to know which procedure fits your eyes is a comprehensive in-office evaluation. Here is what the screening considers, and what points toward each option.
You may be a LASIK candidate if:
- You are 18–21 or older with a prescription stable for 1–2 years
- Your corneas are of adequate thickness for safe flap creation and reshaping
- You have healthy eyes with no significant dry eye, keratoconus, or corneal disease
- Your prescription is within LASIK's treatable range
- You are not pregnant or nursing
You may need an alternative if:
- Your corneas are too thin to safely support a LASIK flap → PRK or EVO ICL
- Your prescription is very high, beyond LASIK's range → EVO ICL
- You have significant dry eye disease → EVO ICL or RLE
- You are 45+ with presbyopia developing → RLE with a premium IOL
- You have early lens changes or beginning cataracts → RLE
Berg-Feinfield offers complimentary consultations at five Los Angeles area locations. You will leave knowing exactly which procedure — if any — is the right fit for your eyes.
Schedule Your EvaluationEvery Procedure Under One Roof in Los Angeles
Dr. Alan M. Berg co-founded Berg-Feinfield and has performed refractive surgery in Los Angeles for over three decades — tens of thousands of LASIK, PRK, and advanced lens procedures.
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Every Option In-House
LASIK, PRK, EVO ICL, and Refractive Lens Exchange — all offered under one roof.
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Recommendation, Not a Referral
The advice reflects what is best for your eyes, not what is convenient to offer.
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Three Decades of Expertise
A co-founder who has trained ophthalmologists leading practices across the country.
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Five LA Locations
Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Beverly Hills, Arcadia, and Valencia — complimentary consultations at each.
Compare Your Options Side by Side
See exactly how LASIK stacks up against each alternative — recovery, candidacy, cost, and long-term outlook.
LASIK vs. PRK
Same laser, different surface access — how recovery and candidacy differ.
Compare →LASIK vs. EVO ICL
Reshaping the cornea vs. an implantable lens for higher prescriptions.
Compare →LASIK vs. RLE
Corneal correction vs. replacing the lens for presbyopia and beyond.
Compare →LASIK in Los Angeles
The full overview of bladeless, all-laser LASIK at Berg-Feinfield.
Explore →60-Second Self-Test
Answer a few questions to see which procedures may suit your eyes.
Take the test →EVO ICL Beverly Hills
Our implantable collamer lens option for the Westside and beyond.
Explore →LASIK Alternatives Questions Answered
The main alternatives to LASIK are PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy), EVO ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens), and Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE). PRK uses the same laser as LASIK without creating a corneal flap. EVO ICL implants a corrective lens inside the eye without removing corneal tissue. RLE replaces the natural lens with an advanced artificial IOL, similar to cataract surgery performed electively.
Common reasons include corneas too thin to safely support flap creation and reshaping, a prescription too high for laser correction, significant dry eye disease that could be worsened by LASIK, keratoconus or irregular corneal shape, and age-related presbyopia or early lens changes better addressed by Refractive Lens Exchange. A comprehensive evaluation determines which factors apply and which alternative fits best.
Both use an excimer laser to reshape the cornea. LASIK creates a corneal flap first, then applies the laser underneath. PRK treats the corneal surface directly after removing the outer epithelial cells, which then regrow naturally. PRK has a longer recovery — one to two weeks for initial clarity vs. one to two days for LASIK — but final outcomes are equivalent for most patients. PRK is preferred for thin corneas and certain lifestyle factors. See our full LASIK vs. PRK comparison.
EVO ICL is an Implantable Collamer Lens — a small, flexible corrective lens placed inside the eye between the iris and the natural lens. No corneal tissue is removed. It is preferred for patients with high myopia (up to −20.00 D) outside LASIK's treatable range, borderline corneal thickness, significant dry eye, or younger patients who want a reversible option. The EVO ICL can be removed if needed, unlike laser procedures. See our LASIK vs. EVO ICL comparison.
Refractive Lens Exchange replaces the eye's natural crystalline lens with a precision artificial IOL — the same procedure as cataract surgery, performed before cataracts develop. Because the natural lens is removed, the eye can never form a cataract afterward. RLE is best suited for patients 45 and older developing presbyopia, those with very high prescriptions, or patients with early lens changes. Premium multifocal IOLs can address both distance and near vision simultaneously. See our LASIK vs. RLE comparison.
Yes. PRK and LASIK produce equivalent visual outcomes for the vast majority of patients — the difference is in recovery, not in the quality of final vision. PRK recovery takes longer because the outer corneal epithelium must regrow over the treated surface, which takes one to two weeks. The laser treatment itself is identical in precision and effectiveness, and for some patients with higher prescriptions PRK may produce slightly better outcomes.
Costs vary by procedure and the complexity of your case. PRK is typically priced similarly to LASIK. EVO ICL tends to cost more due to the implant itself. Refractive Lens Exchange varies based on the lens technology selected. All procedures include pre-operative evaluation and post-operative care, and financing is available. Contact Berg-Feinfield for a complete fee estimate for your alternative procedure.
Yes. Berg-Feinfield offers complimentary refractive consultations at five Los Angeles area locations — Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Beverly Hills, Arcadia, and Valencia. The evaluation includes corneal mapping, prescription assessment, and a full candidacy review across all procedure options.
Find the Right Procedure for Your Eyes
A complimentary evaluation at Berg-Feinfield covers all options — LASIK, PRK, EVO ICL, and Refractive Lens Exchange — so you leave with a clear answer, not just a referral elsewhere.