In this presentation, Dr. Marguerite McDonald distinguishes the primary and important role for PRK when evaluating a patient for elective refractive surgery. She also discusses the risk for ectasia and other postoperative complications when compared with LASIK. The presentation is part of the Refractive Surgery for Residents symposium from the 2012 Annual Meeting. The symposium covers the most fundamental topics in refractive surgery, including patient evaluation, topographic evaluation, step-by-step LASIK and PRK, and recognition and management of surgical complications.