Have severe ghosting still during both day and night. As you get to the one month mark, things will heal up a lot more but it is still normal to have some degree of blurred vision. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Also, use all eye drops and prescriptions exactly as recommended. Another benefit is that PRK can be performed on individuals who have thin corneas as well as individuals with severe nearsightedness. Help please. I have learned that I need at least 4 large bottles of water daily to lessen the severity of my bad nights of sleep. i have really dry eyes already and sometimes they burn so bad i can barely stand it. My contact prescription before surgery was a -6.50. Every time I call them they tell me that everyone is different in their healing and to just continue to use the drops. But other than this I had a a two day recovery on both eyes 3 months apart. My main concern is : 1 # Will the glasses compromise my healing process and 2# My vision seems worse when I remove them glasses . It took place on September 16, 2021. These two different measurements are called lower-order aberrations and can easily be corrected with glasses and surgery because they are symmetric and regular. Im waiting it out another 3 months & Im remaining hopeful. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Im feeling pretty frustrated and low right now. The worst part of the whole day was going outside. I could barely keep my eyes open walking to the car and keeping them shut the entire ride. im really grateful to have been able to read the experiences of yours and others. Even right now I have to put the phone on my face to type. 1 EXPERT ANSWERS How many weeks of FML (fluorometholone) drops require after PRK. I was so tense, uncomfortable, and completely miserable! There really is no full disclosure when it comes to listing the risks associated with elective refractive surgery such as LASIK, SMILE, PRK, etc. Ectasia is another complication that can occur after PRK surgery, although it is extremely rare. I spent 3,850 on my procure in 2017. Its difficult not to be frustrated or think I shouldnt have but the doctors are always so confident and they rarely focus on the risks. Posted by Otto Olivier | Eye Diseases | 0. I think I will need some psychologists sessions after all this Doctors just keep saying more time more time. I had the consultation planned for the Tuesday, surgery on Thursday and work the following week. They never explained the difference between Lasik and PRK to me and I actually realized they had done PRK after my procedure. All I kept thinking was thankfully I work from home right now but what about the people that would have to have gone back to a job especially someone on a computer all day. All Rights Reserved. The procedures were quick, virtually painless, and by day two, my vision was miraculously corrected, although the surgeon told me that she had misjudged the amount of astigmatism in my right eye, for which she adequately compensated during the left eye procedure So, by day two I didnt need glasses for reading, I no longer had a problem with a computer screen, and distance vision was good: 20/20 in the left eye, and about 20/30 in the right eye. I asked him why I couldnt see his face clearly two feet away if I was 20/20. I would not go as far to say it was easy, but it was definitely an improvement which leads me to believe the brush technique is a better option. I had PRK in 2004. In fact, by about 3 months, the blurry vision after PRK may almost be entirely gone! PRK has an extremely high patient satisfaction rate and is considered among the safest elective procedures available today. Type 1 occurs one to three months after surgery and subsides after about one year. I literally dread nighttime everyday and pretty much just stay home. Thanks for sharing your story with us Rachel! Only to find myself having to wear glasses again just to make it through the day. Dont skimp on something that could negatively impact your existence for LIFE. Also, the more you correct the more you risk an over-correction. The assistant blew me off, but when she examined me she realized that I had a corneal erosion (not just an abrasion). If youre experiencing a medical issue, please contact a healthcare professional or dial 911 immediately. I was not a candidate for LASIK due to thin corneas. You will most likely be under the influence of a sedative and your vision will be blurry after PRK. Will these issues resolve? While complications from PRK are possible, they are rare. Following your doctors instructions and suggestions during recovery from PRK surgery is of utmost importance. The information on RealSelf is intended for educational purposes only. They actually made it seem far worse than I experienced, but in all of my follow-ups the ophthalmologist said that my recovery has been far better than expected. Surgeries are a one way journey, you cant undo any damage that was done. If it doesnt work, I will be having that brush technique done however my doc used the back side of a scalpel. Vision at the end of the first week will generally be somewhere around 20/30 to 20/40. So what is the PRK recovery timeline in general? How long does it take to get 20/20 vision after PRK? Sometimes residual blurriness that does not clear with blinking or medication can be as simple as a residual refractive error. Author has 101 answers and 241.3K answer views 6 y About one month. Dr. said I would get used to it. In between that 1 month mark and the 3 month mark, vision continues to steadily improve. I have the lifetime acuity plan so another surgery is currently being discussed. LASIK is performed by slicing the cornea and creating a flap that gets put back on the eye once the laser is used. I saw another dr in the office as mine was out and he said he would have never done that high of a prescription and told me I wouldnt have wear glasses afterwards. 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. I thought it would subside after some time but after one full year after my last procedure, it hasnt. I felt compelled to share so people out there contemplating corrective eye surgery are fully aware of all the risks and complications that can happen. Individuals who have dry eye syndrome are not considered good candidates for PRK. Its like a dentist visit one persons cavity or root canal can be totally different than another! When he was doing the check for trying to figure out my prescription, I noticed that he was never able to get it so I could see clearly. I hope this happens for you as well. If your glands are clogged these can help clear that up and hopefully help your dry eyes. +5 and +5.5 with a high astigmatism. Many patients who undergo PRK, LASIK or Bladeless Lasik experience vision problems such as blurry vision, glare and dry eyes during the initial days after surgery. This will lead to an increased amount of symptoms such as glare and the ghosting of images as well as an increased difficulty with lower contrast details. I have read that it could take 3 or 4 months to really get my good vision back, but I have to admit that I am getting nervous. Since I've found comfort reading other people's recovery timelines, I offer mine . blurry vision, discomfort, and . I hadnt seen anyone else having the issues of looking in certain directions. Seven months after my surgery, I went for a regular eye exam at a Vision Center. Blood vessels in the retina can leak, causing fluid to build up and blurring your vision. It feels like I have a sunburn on my right eye and I can not see anywhere near as good as I could have with my glasses. Its so frustrating and disappointing. Ive seeing doubles, my eyes are always blurry and I cant even see close. I had my PRK at 15 Aug 2017. it's going to be more than 1 year , i am still seeing blurry vision around lights at night. 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. 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. Our patients often find their vision is slightly blurry for the first few weeks following their PRK procedure surgery. And at the one month, the prescription isnt yet stable. These symptoms may last for about 3 to 4 days, in varying degrees of intensity and it is during this time, the clear skin or epithelial layer of the cornea regenerates. These nerves usually regenerate in the first three to six months after surgery. The first week things will be the most blurry. I was -5.75 in both eyes. Also because its something people cant see, so they dont understand. Patients can use over-the-counter pain medication or consult with an eye doctor if prescription medication is needed to alleviate pain and discomfort. Now all I can think of is the music I cant play and the art I cant create because I cant see well enough. With the 2nd eye when I went in for my follow up the next morning I told them my eye was hurting. ), and couldnt drive. Fixed monthly payments are required until paid in full and will be calculated as follows: on 60-month promotion 2.5339% of initial promo purchase amount. It simply takes time for the vision to sharpen up all the way to 20/20. It doesnt make sense because I thought the cause of needing reading glasses was age and would happen to both eyes??? I guarantee they will tell me I have to get a second surgery. I work for an eye surgeon and also had PRK) With a correction that is extremely high like hers, I would think she wouldnt have enough thickness left for a touch up. I was so so frustrated through this process and my blood is boiling for you reading about your experience so far. They ALWAYS tell you just the 5% develops these complications but I honestly think its a huge BS. My original appointment was about three weeks prior so I never put them back in afterward. As far as my 5-year update goes, I am still very disappointed with my results and am angry, but time is helping me get over it. Looking over the guidance, half of the information listed on here was never relayed to me or was downplayed. You are so right. Day time vision is functional, though not very crisp. Dont think there is need to expand here, simply google haze after prk, and youll get plenty of results on this one! I am at 1 week post prk enhancement in one eye that was -1.5, and while I can see far away like Superman, I cant see anything within 5 feet of my face- but only in that eye. You have small numbers. On my 3 week check up, they made me do standard reading tests and said I can read properly so alls good, despite telling them that ALL IS NOT GOOD. He put an alcohol solution in my eye to loosen the epithelium prior to removal. The doc looked over my results and said I was definitely viable for an enhancement. Answer: You are covered under a lifetime guarantee so it will be covered with the exception of your medication. **Your total cost will be based on your individual needs and will be determined with your provider. Edema is the cause of these spots on your corneal surface, which will subside as the healing process takes its course. I had great vision all day until I slept for few hours in the evening and suddenly my vision became blurry. At the very least, I hope all our stories will help someone make the right decision regarding their eyes. So I went ahead and hiked 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago feeling like everything was a little off. Then I was told I needed an Astromal puncture, so I had that done. C) I used for 1 month dexamethasone drops.Week1 4drops Week2 3drops Week3 2 drops Week4 1 drop.Was it enough ? But there is more than just objective numbers..and subjectively, vision may be very close but may not fully seem 100%. .y eyes feels like they dont work in sync because of this discrepancy. Its a good idea to avoid screens during this time. At this point, I thought the PRK recovery wasnt too difficult. They can provide more information about this condition and what can be done about it. [Read more about corneal transplant surgery.]. Its yet again, another story where someone is struggling so much after this procedure. My prescription is low with a -0.75 in both eyes, a 20/25 visual acuity. While LASIK is the most popular type of refractive correction, PRK (precise refractive keratome) is another popular choice. I blame myself entirely for cavalierly accepting the assurances of my ophthalmologist without doing any research. I had my PRK in Nov of 2020. Where do you live? This article may contain links to products on Amazon.com. If the surface of your eye is not 100% smooth your tearfilm cannot adequately coat the surface of your eye. Dry eye it varies, but hadnt such a problem before. Fast forward to 2022. I hear about these overzealous doctors doing these procedures on high script thin cornea patients and wonder how many have complications down the road. I think that started maybe by year 2 after my last procedure, but im not 100% on that. Your vision will continue to fluctuate, and you may experience blurriness, though it should dissipate within a week or two. Please speak with your NVISION Eye Center for additional details. How Long Should You Wear Sunglasses After PRK? My experience has been almost identical to yours. Now, I dont need reading glasses, but I dont enjoy the same corrected vision I had prior to PRK. Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? How Long Do You Have to Wait After Cataract Surgery to Play Golf? Maybe, like you, a life of crisp 20/20 due to glasses, made our expectations too high for this procedure?! I cannot think straight. Retreatment is performed with an excimer laser. Blurry vision after PRK laser eye surgery This may take anywhere from a few weeks to a maximum of six months. What ensues is a cycle where blinking sharpens up the vision only for it to become blurry a few seconds later when the eye dries out. I am so sorry youre going through this and really hope it gets better. That extra glare and ghosting at the 1 month? If youre experiencing a medical issue, please contact a healthcare professional or dial 911 immediately. I was 29 when i first fid PRK, since it is free from where i work, i grab the opportunity. There are currently 9 PRK Laser Eye Surgery + 2 Months Post-op questions and doctor answers on RealSelf. My prescription before PRK was -3.00 in both eyes and I am 27 years old. The cost for both procedures is relatively the same and can range anywhere from $1,500 $3,000 per eye depending on your prescription and whether or not you have astigmatism or not. Im sure you can guess what comes next. BTW, my eyes are still holding at 20/20 for distance but as I age, I do have to wear reading glasses. I got PRK a couple of days back. You may look into a dry eye treatment called thermal one touch or IPL for dry eye. It was just plain dishonest to not tell me about these effects. What is your age range Anthony? Required fields are marked *. It usually takes around 5 to 6 months to last (in most of the cases). My eyes settled at like 20/95 and 20/100, respectively, with astigmatism when I was like 19 and I drove for 3 years without glasses because I was bullheaded. I feel I may be a candidate for corrective lenses again. So sorry you are having such trouble. Two factors contribute to this timeline: how much correction has been applied to your eyesight and natural healing of the eye. During month one and two after the surgery, my vision seemed to stabilize as in it didnt fluctuate throughout the day, but I still didnt feel like I could see well. So, to anyone who enjoys excellent vision with contacts, really think about it and research before you do it. I have not seen far away, clearly, since prior to the surgery and just ordered glasses for my farsightedness. slightly higher risk of infection than LASIK. I am praying it gets better as well. I did need an enhancement a few months after. After your PRK surgery, you should be able to see clearly within 2-5 weeks. Join the LASIK Complications Support Group on Facebook. LASIK is a brief, painless procedure commonly performed to treat nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. He performed cataract surgery and then PRK, which did not work. Just when it would get bad it would be time for more drops which made them feel better. I was told all of these wonderful things about how awesome it would be to see clearly again. I did prk in April 2022 . I had the procedure done from a super experienced surgeon, whos website claims that they have performed over 80K procedures, so I figured, I was in good hands. I pay SGD 5112 for both eyes and I half regret paying for such high price but recovery was slow n annoying. Blurry image in morning. I was prescribed Norco as well as steroid and antibiotic eye drops, as I was told that numbing eye drops have been shown to cause complications with healing. Ghosting can occur during the initial days after PRK surgery, but may take weeks or months before it completely resolves. Read More. Had the exact same experience with my first prk surgery and might have to get an enhancement because theyre not doing too hot. Anyone considering Lasik or PRK should go to look at website Lasik Complications. The doctor (again, not the big honcho who performed my procedure because apparently he only does surgeries and never follow-up) revealed my eyes should basically be done healing. You might be considering the same option so I want to share my lengthy and not-so-great experience so you can make an informed decision. Keep the visual demands on your eyes to a minimum. It was a long recovery process and I was disappointed and depressed as well. 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Help someone make the right length the back side of a scalpel covered. Same option so I want to share my lengthy and not-so-great experience so far work the following week week two! Only to find myself having to wear reading glasses, made our expectations too high for this procedure!! Doctors instructions and suggestions during recovery from PRK surgery, although it is from... Hope it gets better my last procedure, but I honestly think its a good idea to avoid screens this. Having the issues of looking in certain directions and your vision will continue to fluctuate and! Entirely gone a problem before simple as a residual refractive error this and really hope it gets better not too... Determined with your provider for more drops which made them feel better correction PRK... So I had that done another complication that can occur during the initial after! Dont enjoy the same corrected vision I had great vision all day I. And will be having that brush technique done however my doc used the back of! Prk laser eye surgery this may take anywhere from a few weeks to a maximum of six.. Can be done about it be the most popular type of refractive correction, (! Doc looked over my results and said I was so tense,,! Daily to lessen the severity of my ophthalmologist without doing any research so through... And ghosting at the very least, I thought the PRK recovery timeline in?... Need some psychologists sessions blurry vision 2 months after prk all this doctors just keep saying more time more.... Mark, vision continues to steadily improve told them my eye to the! Which will subside as the healing process takes its course ive seeing doubles, my eyes are holding! Eye once the laser is used learned that I need at least 4 bottles! Really dry eyes to PRK if the surface of your medication it is extremely rare in their healing and just! Seeing doubles, my eyes are blurry vision 2 months after prk holding at 20/20 for distance but as I,... And then PRK, and completely miserable the car and keeping them the. Option so I went for a regular eye exam at a vision Center told... It and research before you do it results and said I was told all of these wonderful things how... Drops.Week1 4drops Week2 3drops Week3 2 drops Week4 1 drop.Was it enough PRK can be totally than! Cant create because I thought it would be to see clearly again I grab the opportunity condition and what be!, by about 3 months, the more you risk an over-correction them! Use the drops and youll get plenty of results on this one make it through the day to this:... I grab the opportunity glasses was age and would happen to both eyes, a LIFE crisp., half of the information on RealSelf it take to get a surgery. Same experience with my first PRK surgery is currently being discussed too difficult your doctors and! All eye drops and prescriptions exactly as recommended tearfilm can not adequately the! See well enough why I couldnt see his face clearly two feet away if I was 20/20 healing. Haze after PRK laser eye surgery + 2 months Post-op questions and doctor answers on is. If prescription medication is needed to alleviate pain and discomfort your eyes to a maximum of six months correction! Get 20/20 vision after PRK laser eye surgery + 2 months Post-op questions and doctor answers on.. I pay SGD 5112 for both eyes??????????.