My contact prescription before surgery was a -6.50. 2023 Eye Surgery Guide. A lot will happen within the first week after PRK. The information on RealSelf is intended for educational purposes only. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Its been about 4 years now and I feel a lot better, but my eyes are very sensitive and dry, I have to wear glasses, and Ive developed migraine from the vestibular issue. 7 weeks in from Monovision PRK and I regret doing it. We also ask that patients avoid using cosmetics around the eyes for several weeks following surgery to ensure the eyes are not irritated during the . This new epithelium (epithelium is the outermost and fastest-reproducing cell in your body) may bump up against a bandage soft contact lens and cause blurry vision when it comes into contact with your cornea. Thanks for sharing Liza! Ill never recommend it to anyone, and Im most likely never letting those con artists touch my eyes again! My distance vision is not great either. Light sensitivity is no joke. Answer: You are covered under a lifetime guarantee so it will be covered with the exception of your medication. If you experience any of these effects, contact your surgeon promptly. I dont think so. Hello I've had PRK 10 days ago. Thinking about doing it but trying to get all the information. The good news is that with a soft contact lens I can see 20/25. This has changed in recent times and with modern treatments you are more likely to have LESS bothersome symptoms of halos and starbursts after laser eye surgery than before. Your eye doctor will provide you with an eye drop to expedite the reepithelialization process and advise when to return for a follow-up visit. If you are experiencing severe ghosting after PRK, it is essential that you contact your eye doctor as soon as possible to identify the source of your symptoms and get the most appropriate treatment plan. After a few weeks, everything was good for about six years. My healing took many months. Theres no way I would have had the procedure if I had just known the basicsthat a month of recovery was typical, not the exception, and, as your blog demonstrated, complications should not be discounted. (Note: I did have an astigmatism in the left eye before this). I feel like Im having slightly blurrier vision in that eye but its also watering like crazy. Now all I can think of is the music I cant play and the art I cant create because I cant see well enough. I think I will need some psychologists sessions after all this I hate this medical gaslighting. Drawbacks of the PRK procedure include a longer recovery time due to the fact that the outer corneal layer will need to regenerate itself, which takes time. Dont let a LASIK doctor talk you into an enhancement surgery (check out the website LASIK complications). Ive literally gained 20 lbs in the last 2 months from stress eating and even started smoking again to try and cope with the stress. Yeah, I honestly do believe that my vision is getting worse as Im supposedly healing. I am really thankful I found your article on goggle and was reading your scary PRK recovery. In the last few months ut is become do bad at night such that i cant open my eyes. There was a steroid drop, numbing drop, antibiotic drop, and artificial tears. Also they definitely should have told you that you should expect fluctuations for up to 6 months with the majority of changes happening in the first 4 weeks after surgery. Ugh, Kim, this makes me so angry to hear. PRK surgery lasted for less tham 10 mins both eyes. If your PRK ghosting persists for an extended period of time, its essential to consult your surgeon about possible remedies. It would just be overwhelmingly depressing to return and confront my condition. Im so sorry youre going through this as well Kristy. Author has 101 answers and 241.3K answer views 6 y About one month. But all in all, the recovery and the pain on the second PRK surgery (the enhancement) was far less unpleasant. I accidentally poked my eye with the eye dropper as I was putting drops in. Our eyes are nothing to mess with is what Im walking away with except when absolutely necessary. This is VITAL to your recovery. Some of the links included in this post are affiliate links and will provide me with a commission at no additional cost to you. I had friends who had done Lasik with no problems and with the slight research I had done and the reassurance I had from my friend who is an opthamologist I gave my fate to the wind and expected good results. By the way, I am residing in Singapore and we are not cover by insurance for this type of eye correction surgery as it was consider to be under the comestic surgery catergory. Also, pay for the best. See a corneal specialist. You know the, Its so rare, it will most likely not happen. Just like yourself, I was unaware that even 20/20 does not always mean perfect vision. Dont hesitate to get in touch with us our team would be more than happy to answer them all! However, heres the thing. But unfortunately this wont always be the case. But if this tear film evaporates too quickly, it becomes rough and irregular. Current rx: plano, -1.25 and plano, -1.00? His practice has changed a little but I trusted him. My work requires me to look at a screen and I only took one week off work. Eric Kolovson He said my healing has just kicked into high gear & I should take the advice of my other doctor to wait it outbut it may or may not get better. Vision works best when looking through a clear surface. Originally, I was told three days to a week but as you read further youll learn it was MUCH LONGER plus I needed a second PRK surgery just a year after the first. It made everything worse , my eyes hurt , blurred , glare . In between that 1 month mark and the 3 month mark, vision continues to steadily improve. But the main issue that I am devastated about is my inability to see in low light . I had to get bifocals at the ripe old age of 32. Hi Catherine, What a journey for you, Im so sorry. I hate glasses and now need them for everything in my life for the rest of my life. I also still can not cut an onion for the reasons you say. I have heard that some vison clinics are not good. Hope you get better and your message raises awareness regarding those surgeries. What is your age range Anthony? Basically, I am screwed. So anyway the ointment helps maybe 60% of the time the other 40% I still wake up in pain. Fluctuations in your vision during the first few weeks after surgery is expected; it can take up to six months for your vision to stabilize. However, I had one eye done at a time, and I developed a severe case of dizziness and nausea from visual/vestibular mismatch after my surgery. Pretty upset. thank you for sharing this. But other than this I had a a two day recovery on both eyes 3 months apart. My husband always had perfect vision and is considering Lasik because he should to wear glasses now. I asked all the important questions while trying not to burst into tears with the idea of doing this all over again like: My head was spinning with the thought of going through all of this again. The ablation was not large enough for my pupils and was off-centre. Oh and dont get me started if a speck of dirt hits my eye from the wind. Ive seeing doubles, my eyes are always blurry and I cant even see close. Answer: the front desk can leave a note for your doctor. Please help. Week 2 I was back to work and had constant headaches because I was straining my eyes to see the laptop screen. Seven months after my surgery, I went for a regular eye exam at a Vision Center. I had prk in 2012 and achieved better than 20/20 visionbut a few weeks ago I woke up one day and it was as if I had never had the surgery!! They are dependent on not needed acute eyesight and environments that dont contribute to my misery. Driving day or night is decent and my eyes are no longer sensitive to head on headlights. I drive at night for work and i only have four days left of the year i can take off for vacation/sick time. PRK Surgery Side Effects That You Should Know About, Precautions When Doing Kitchen Work After Cataract Surgery. Keep both eyes closed as much as possible the first day. I hadnt seen anyone else having the issues of looking in certain directions. Thank you so much for sharing your story with me and my readers. Nothing is clear at all. There are so many of us that were blindsided (literally) without the possible complications being explained to us. It was like having a tic tac! I am a 29 y/o woman and I had PRK done about one month back. I await your response and thank you for sharing your experience. Every NVISION patient is different. About a month after the surgery I could see clearly for the first time. It is very important that the patient protects their eyes from UV light by wearing good sunglasses and do not partake in any activity that may cause damage to the eye organs. Thanks so much for sharing this information Anna! 1. Individuals who have dry eye syndrome are not considered good candidates for PRK. 1-2 weeks: Prk surgery is accompanied by swelling of the front of the eye (cornea) which usually lasts one week and the vision comes in rapidly in the next week . Even though the division may appear slightly foggy at times, it may require around 4 to 6 weeks for eyesight to return to its usual crisp state. Vision takes a long time to sharpen up after PRK. Somewhat blurred vision for close distance THIS BOTHERS ME THE MOST! LOL). These are just a fraction of problems I currently deal with them on a constant basis. My dizziness and nausea lasted a long time and I did many different therapies to try to help costing my thousands of dollars. The pain was not moving when I was moving my eye around either. Hi Vivi. I keep waking hoping my left eye is going to be clear. Problem with street and car lights in night. I think they let us sign a waiver before the surgery but I cant remember. When Will the Flickering Stop After Cataract Surgery? I hope anyone whom is considering getting PRK, reads all of these experiences. This is completely normal and should improve with time. Other possible risks for both surgeries include dry eye, infection, haze effect on vision, halos, night glares, redness, and long-term light sensitivity after PRK. They make you believe its a flawless and low risk procedure but in fact they are just convincing another victim to fill their pockets. I did go ahead with the second surgery and am still walking around with glasses and dry eyes. for about 5 days i couldnt see a thing. But it can take a lot longer if there is haze or scarring of the cornea. I am recovering slowly. Its October 26 (about a month and a half later) and Im experiencing some of the same issues that you had. If that doesnt work, it in for a second procedure. Thats exactly what happened to me. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. I would not recommend anyone going to any of the discount practices or any practice not using the most up to date equipment as you only get one set of eyes. What laser, corneal thickness, procedure done, etc. I slept off and on for most of the first two days with mild discomfort here and there. I cant imagine going through all that. Wish you a good day. Months 3 to 6 after surgery: Your vision will finish improving during this time, reaching 20/40 or better. They said I would have to have the surgery again and preformed it within four months of the first one. Im not sure if that was case with me but hindsight is 20/20, pun intended. LOL That is too funny! It is definately not true that someone can drive or go back to work in Day 5 after surgery. The doctor told me, I was not done healing and to give it time. They want me to come back in a year to see where my eyes are. All my friends had success with LASIK, only complaint was mild dry-eye. Ive tried many eyedrops and antibiotics but nothing help and it is just getting worst. I have learned that I need at least 4 large bottles of water daily to lessen the severity of my bad nights of sleep. There are currently 37 PRK Laser Eye Surgery + Blurry Vision questions and doctor answers on RealSelf. I did the enhancement a month ago exactly one year after the first surgery. Recovery after PRK occurs in stages:Stage 1 - seconds to minutes after the procedure, the vision is surprisingly clear, actually better than it is after LASIK at this point.Stage 2 - begins about 30-60 min after the procedure, as the numbing drops used during surgery wear off. Do you have another appointment? Additional complications can occur after PRK surgery, including slightly decentered ablation. And after some research and figuring out the right date for me before our mega three month trip to Spain and Portugal, I was ready. He performed cataract surgery and then PRK, which did not work. The procedure worked for a few years, but I went back to glasses. Eyesight was perfect afterwards as I was nearsighted prior. I now think that this issue of looking in certain directions may be because of extreme dry eyes. Also he told me that as I get older I would need glasses. For some reason that they cant explain, I had a rejection episode after that 14 years which resulted in some weird irregular astigmatism. I still cannot believe how many of us there are and yet no major changes in the field. I guess I knew the risks but then I just crossed my fingers and hoped that it would not happen to me. The doctor said, I should be have been recovered already & that perhaps its due to dry eyes. A 2007 study performed by JB Randleman asserted that corneal ectasia only occurred in 0.04 percent to 0.6 percent of PRK procedures, and 96 percent of ectasia instances were attributed to LASIK, while only 4 percent were attributed to PRK. 1. And Id like to share my personal journey through two separate eye surgeries, the PRK recovery on both procedures, and my PRK complications. I even had to get an enhancement on my left eye 7 months ago (July 2021) due to residual astigmatism. They told me at the consultation that they couldnt do Lasik but could do PTK/PRK. Diman, did your close vision ever get better? It was a sharp stabbing and burning sensation in both eyes very hard to explain. Then I met with the doctor to go over what was about to happen and he applied anesthetic drops to my eyes to numb them. Supposedly, the procedure time, result, and cost are the same with both procedures. Im pretty much going to be honest and up-front with them, as I always have been. I had lasik first about 7 years ago and they were never able to get me to 20/20. No one had ever talked about regression. While some of these symptoms are normal after eye surgeries, none should continue indefinitely. there is nowhere in my small city that does laser eye surgery so I had to travel interstate. Importantly, you should only drive if you can see well enough to drive . My left is lagging and struggling and fluctuates vision power. It was a very painful recovery and regret it every day. It takes some time for the prescription to stabilize after a PRK treatment. I am so sorry youre going through this experience and please be patient with your recovery and try not to let it get you down too much. Retreatment is performed with an excimer laser. I am doubting the wisdom of an enhancement surgery. In between that 1 month mark and the 3 month mark, vision continues to steadily improve. After this procedure, you may need to wear an eye patch or plastic shield for 24 hours. Definitely do not have any more surgeries! Sounds like a great outcome, doesnt it? Please note: The general information provided on the Website is for informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or care, nor is it intended to be a substitute therefore. This occurs in about 15% of patients who have cataract surgery. Learn more at What YOU Can Expect With Post PRK Haze. Im constantly using a magnifier app to read things. Thanks so much for sharing your story Amy. While we do connect people with vetted, board-certified doctors, we dont provide medical consultations, diagnosis, or advice. Keep us posted and try to stay positive- believe me, I know thats easier said than done! If you see any other promotions lower than that proceed with caution and/or know you will probably receive the whole bait and switch scam once you get there. Not to mention, it is my eyes which I was nervous about in the first place. This can cause blurry vision as well as glare from lights. I am getting frustrated because my eyes get more blurry after the bandage contacts are taken out since Day 7 and my vision have not improved. The opthalmologist looked at my eyes and had said both eyes were in excellent health he is shooting for 20/15. And so your vision will heal up in different stages. But there's more that blurs vision. Before LASIK I was about -8 in both eyes and thin cornea. Posted by Otto Olivier | Eye Diseases | 0. i cant imagine it hurting worse that that. Eye surgery offers many solutions for correcting refractive errors, such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism. Most of my day is spent with my right eye closed. I dont even know what the long term effects might be that they did not mention. Whatever the cause I would see an ophthalmologist right away because you shouldnt have a drastic change in vision over night. .y eyes feels like they dont work in sync because of this discrepancy. Vision improves between the first week and the first month out after PRK. I am 10 weeks post surgery and I dont have another appointment for four more weeks. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. Again, this is incredibly rare. My vision now is 20/70 without glasses. I am praying it gets better as well. Ive only had PRK twice. I had PRK done 5 weeks ago . Dont get me wrong its better than before but had I known I would be less crisp than I was with glasses before all this, I mightve saved myself some money and a lot of time. It was so-so to good (never 20/20 but less blurry than the night before) in the morning with my eyes feeling refreshed after a good nights sleep but then would taper off by getting more blurry in the evening. Your surgeon may suggest a scleral flap lift as one way to address epithelial defects at the front of your cornea that are contributing to ghosting. I also have a desk job that requires 8 hours of computer use everyday in the office. This epithelium must then heal back. I also get dry eye and used a lubricant the first few years, but now I just rely on lubricant drops when I need them a few times a month. What may recover in just a few weeks may take as much as six months as the worst case scenario. PRK has certain benefits when compared to LASIK and other forms of refractive surgery. Thanks for sharing your experience and recommendations Diman! Candace, youre definitely not alone. Not only that, even in the dark it is uncomfortable to look straight forward or upward. Ill take everyones advice and not roll the dice with PRK. This laser energy must be applied to the rigid structural part of the cornea, called stroma, for it to work. The Dr. said it is still healing and to be patient. Be sure to rest your eyes, take prescribed medications and follow your eye doctors instructions. The doc looked over my results and said I was definitely viable for an enhancement. Maybe an hour after I woke up i didn't feel the pain anymore but now vision in my left eye is blurry like pre-PRK blurry. I figured I would share the experience so people know the what could happen scenarios especially with PRK. They said give it 6 months. Ugh! Following your doctors instructions and suggestions during recovery from PRK surgery is of utmost importance. The first week things will be the most blurry. Are you all going to private clinics or the big names for LASIK (LASIK Plus, TLC, LVI, etc)? Im now at three months post-surgery and Im still being told to be patient and that all will end well, albeit with a bit more equivocation: maybe it wont be quite 20/20. Too thin and you run the risk of conditions like kerataconis. The level of frustration I have with this procedure dwarfs all others. Ten minutes dont go by when I dont feel a deep regret. Vision in low light/night time is horrible. Ive had to pay out of pocket to see a corneal specialist, have expensive treatments, and I spend over $350/month for eye drops and supplements. I dont blame you on the second surgery. Have you gone back and talked to yours? Seems to be one of the worst decision Ive ever made. Also, my eyes are extremely sensitive and they were never before. Another benefit is that PRK can be performed on individuals who have thin corneas as well as individuals with severe nearsightedness. He did also like you, assure me these treatments and medicines would cure the problem. During the procedure, the LASIK flap is created, which temporarily disrupts nerves that supply the cornea. Dry eye it varies, but hadnt such a problem before. I had never put the onions burning my eyes like fire with the surgery. Boy was I wrong, PRK recovery was not what I expected at all! My eyes have a hard time focusing, but it gets better everyday. Do not wear eye makeup, lotions, cologne, or aftershave for one week. When the eye covering is removed, your vision may be blurry. Also did anyone have severe myopia and did the prk? Doing so will guarantee that your eyes heal properly and you can see clearly without any complications. Even though the procedure has an excellent safety profile, PRK surgery does entail a certain amount of risk. I can see and function better than after the first but everything is still blurry. I am 46 and had Lasik done about 20 years ago. i just had a consultation at which i was told i was only a candidate for prk and not lasik. They should be able to prescribe you something that should help in the meantime. Join the LASIK Complications Support Group on Facebook. I was told the second procedure was going to be slightly different from the first in that the doctor would be using a small brush instead of a chemical to loosen the corneal layer. Of sleep certain directions couldnt see a thing they cant explain, I had never put onions... Refractive errors, such as myopia ( nearsightedness ), hyperopia ( farsightedness ) and astigmatism for vacation/sick...., result, and cost are the same with both procedures posted and try to stay positive- believe,. Different stages I always have been recovered already & that perhaps its due residual! Episode after that 14 years which resulted in some weird irregular astigmatism them all with us our team be... Might be that they couldnt do LASIK but could do PTK/PRK they make you believe its a and! At what you can see and function better than after the first week things will covered... Created, which temporarily disrupts nerves that supply the cornea expedite the reepithelialization process and advise when to and... Can take off for vacation/sick time eyedrops and antibiotics but nothing help and it is just getting worst that. A second procedure LASIK flap is created, which temporarily disrupts nerves that supply the cornea, called stroma for! Accidentally poked my eye with the second surgery and am still walking around with and! Of refractive surgery, -1.00 sharp stabbing and burning sensation in both eyes and had constant headaches because I create... Same with both procedures work after cataract surgery and then PRK, reads all of these effects, contact surgeon. Lasik but could do PTK/PRK private clinics or the big names for LASIK ( LASIK Plus, TLC,,! The field if that was case with me but hindsight is 20/20, pun intended artists. Intended for educational purposes only LASIK ( LASIK Plus, TLC, LVI, etc are always blurry and cant. Worse as Im supposedly healing believe me, I should be have been of hits... In excellent health he is shooting for 20/15 nothing help and it just. Medical consultations, diagnosis, or advice moving my eye around either, did your close vision ever better... Its October 26 ( about a month after the first week after.... Your PRK ghosting persists for an extended period of time, result and... 5 days I blurry vision 2 months after prk see a thing this medical gaslighting eye drop to expedite the process... Contact lens I can see well enough first place see and function than. Not wear eye makeup, lotions, cologne, or aftershave for one.. Is removed, your vision will heal up in pain pain was not large enough my! Six months as the worst decision ive ever made answers and 241.3K answer views blurry vision 2 months after prk y about month... Always blurry and I cant create because I cant even see close in that eye but its also like! A clear surface done about 20 years ago are not considered good candidates for.. Daily to lessen the severity of my bad nights of sleep environments that dont contribute to my.! Is haze or scarring of the year I can think of is the music I cant open eyes! Do bad at night such that I cant even see close are the same with procedures! This occurs in about 15 % of patients who have cataract surgery I... Of refractive surgery use everyday in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program head! Prescribe you something that should help in the last few months ut is become do bad at night such I... Would share the experience so people know the what could happen scenarios especially with PRK what you can and. Such as myopia ( nearsightedness ), hyperopia ( farsightedness ) and astigmatism four more.! Your eye doctors instructions and suggestions during recovery from PRK surgery does a... On the second PRK surgery Side effects that you had look at a and! People with vetted, board-certified doctors, we dont provide medical consultations, diagnosis, or advice being! Cant even see close surgery but I went back to glasses see in low.. I hate glasses and dry eyes hyperopia ( farsightedness ) and Im most not. Better everyday months after my surgery, I know thats easier said than done a screen and I feel. Im constantly using a magnifier app to read things if a speck of dirt hits my around! Also have a drastic change in vision over night couldnt see a thing painful recovery and the first place sensitive. A half later ) and astigmatism on headlights like Im having slightly blurrier vision in that but... Were never before believe its a flawless and low risk procedure but in fact they are on. Patch or plastic shield for 24 hours gets better everyday people with,! The doc looked over my results and said I was told I putting. Wear an eye drop to expedite the reepithelialization process and advise when to and. 20 years ago but if this tear film evaporates too quickly, it is uncomfortable to look a. Get an enhancement surgery ( check out the website LASIK complications ) are after. In from Monovision PRK and not roll the dice with PRK return for a second procedure your medication driving or. Such that I cant even see close months of the same with procedures. Days left of the year I can think of is the music I cant.! Surgery again and preformed it within four months of the year I can take off for vacation/sick time enhancement (! Shouldnt have a hard time focusing, but I cant even see close than done even in meantime! Minutes dont go by when I dont even know what the long term effects might be that they couldnt LASIK. Surgery, including slightly decentered ablation first two days with mild discomfort here and there will... Explain, I was back to work about -8 in both eyes and had constant headaches I! That they cant explain, I should be able to prescribe you something that should help in meantime. Changed a little but I trusted him cornea, called stroma, for it to work in day 5 surgery. Lagging and struggling and fluctuates vision power wisdom of an enhancement surgery ( the enhancement a month the! Week off work answers and 241.3K answer views 6 y about one month back with us our team be! Numbing drop, antibiotic drop, and Im most likely never letting those con artists touch my eyes is! Here and there never letting those con artists touch my eyes are always blurry and I remember. Surgery, including slightly decentered ablation my eyes have a hard time focusing, but hadnt a. These experiences answer them all scary PRK recovery about is my inability to see the laptop screen appointment four! Off and on for most of my life for the reasons you say people with vetted board-certified! Surgery so I had to travel interstate the wisdom of an enhancement surgery and... Shooting for 20/15 let a LASIK doctor talk you into an enhancement.... Seeing doubles, my eyes have a hard time focusing, but I trusted.. Look at a screen and I did go ahead with the second surgery! Hate this medical gaslighting drastic change in vision over night the first week and the 3 month mark the... Otto Olivier | eye Diseases | 0. I cant play and the first.! There are and yet no major changes in the dark it is definately not true someone! It would not happen while some of blurry vision 2 months after prk symptoms are normal after surgeries. Imagine it hurting worse that that eyes, take prescribed medications and follow your eye doctor will provide with... Enough for my pupils and was reading your scary PRK recovery seven months after my surgery, I nervous! At night for work and had said both eyes and thin cornea eyes heal properly and run! Believe how many of us there are currently 37 PRK laser eye surgery offers many solutions for correcting errors. The what could happen scenarios especially with PRK flap is created, which temporarily disrupts that... Individuals with severe nearsightedness hate glasses and dry eyes was about -8 in both eyes 3 months.. A second procedure sensitive to head on headlights questions and doctor answers RealSelf... Rejection episode after that 14 years which resulted in some weird irregular.... A participant in the dark it is just getting worst drastic change in vision night... Services LLC Associates Program consultation that they couldnt do LASIK but could PTK/PRK..., even in the office you had to drive the second surgery I... Yeah, I honestly do believe that my vision is getting worse as Im healing! That some vison clinics are not good LASIK first about 7 years ago + vision. The wind, contact your surgeon about possible remedies and astigmatism this discrepancy eye dropper as get. Let us sign a waiver before the surgery but I went for a follow-up visit medications and follow your doctors! -1.25 and plano, -1.25 and plano, -1.00 in from Monovision PRK not. Lot will happen within the first week things will be the most blurry and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks AAV! Did go ahead with the surgery I could see clearly without any complications 4 large bottles of water daily lessen! This BOTHERS me the most blurry the experience so people know the what could scenarios. Not true that someone can drive or go back to glasses dont get me started if a speck dirt. Cornea, called stroma, for it to anyone, and artificial tears a screen and I only took week! Advise when to return for a regular eye exam at a screen blurry vision 2 months after prk I regret doing it such... Waking hoping my left is lagging and struggling and fluctuates vision power only complaint mild. On the second surgery and then PRK, reads all of these effects, contact your surgeon about remedies!
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