PRK is recommended for police, athletes, or military or anyone who may be exposed to possible eye impacts or physical blows to face. This is because the PRK "sands" the eye, which re-heals (like a knee with a scab wound) to the new 20/20 version. Re-healed, it is as strong as the original eye. Because of the "rehealed is as strong as the original version" status, it is very rare for a "touch up" to be required of PRK patients, which is common in LASIK patients, typically 10-15 years after the original surgery.
PRK healing, while nothing unbearable, is clearly more inconvenient than the healing/recovery of LASIK.
LASIK, my understanding (from my doctor), can leave the eye in a state, even 10 years later, that any impacts to the eye can be a medical emergency. I don't mean a mosquito flew into your eye, I am talking about fist fight, walk into a tree branch, etc stuff.
Just what I was told...
** I have a few posts from a few years ago regarding my own PRK experience, if anyone wants to search them