My dizziness and nausea lasted a long time and I did many different therapies to try to help costing my thousands of dollars. Your vision becomes blurry. Here are a few facts I wish I would have read before I began my PRK journey. Ruby Design Company. My vision was WAY better than before the procedure but I still felt like I couldnt see great especially in low light or at night. Problem with street and car lights in night. at this point, I think I need to cut ties and continue to see my regular eye doctor and not the one at the lasik center. And on the complete opposite side, my eyes would feel dry later in the day so I would use eye drops at least 4 or 5 times a day. For most people, vision remains blurred while your eye adjusts to the new implant. Retreatment is performed with an excimer laser. I had the consultation planned for the Tuesday, surgery on Thursday and work the following week. Of course I can see 10 times better when wear the glasses. After surgery, I have worse night vision, and the power (how close or far something appears) in my left eye is lower than the power in my right. Should I be worried? Looking back, I would have done things differently. The drive back was brutal on the fourth daySouth Africa isnt known for having a lot of cloud cover in November. I was not relaxed in the preparation for this surgery. What symptom that mostly annoyed me was the dry eye syndrome where I wake up some nights due to painful dry eyes! I was still sensitive to light but not as severe and I was able to get on the computer for about 4 5 hours a day. Now I am 3 years post op Im still experiencing this. Believe it or not I actually saw 20/15 with glasses pre-surgery. 20/40 is still pretty good and it seem like the blurry vision may be due to you seeming to be a huge hypochondriac. LASIK has little downtime with only a day or so for recovery whereas PRK is much longer. So I went ahead and hiked 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago feeling like everything was a little off. 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. My ophthalmologist recommended PRK because of the shape of my cornea. I hope youre doing better today. Im hoping I just havent healed all the way yet. 4. I started my rounds of eye drops immediately. I could smell it, too. It was the first type of laser vision surgery and is often recommended if a patients corneas are too thin for LASIK. Is this normal? Both LASIK and PRK have incredibly high success rates, among the highest rates for any elective surgeries. Learn about common complications from PRK, including blurred vision, pain, discomfort, and more. I too am having problems look straight on or upwards. Have you gone back and talked to yours? The majority of patients achieve up to 20/20 vision with PRK. Ophthalmology 53 years experience. I think I will stick to my glasses. There was a steroid drop, numbing drop, antibiotic drop, and artificial tears. I received a (hopefully) temporary prescription for farsightedness back on November 5th from the eye surgeons office. The prescription of the eye stabilizes and with this comes improvements in what you can see. Learn more at What YOU Can Expect With Post PRK Haze. I had PRk Surgery 10 weeks ago. so I will be trying daily contacts in the near future. I even put a sign on my bed that says I did PRK because before I did try sleeping with my contacts on and it was horrrible and scary I though ill lose my sight due to dryness anyway, its just there to remind me I am really seeing clearly now. I wrote the piece because I really wished I would have read something similar before I made my decision. There is a small amount of residual fluid remaining from the detachment that isnt absorbed automatically. 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. Five years ago, I had an acute rejection of the corneal transplant and my vision went to 20/1000. Clive Novis Ophthalmologist, South Africa. .y eyes feels like they dont work in sync because of this discrepancy. But the difference was, I was driving the next day and I could see perfectly when I woke up after the first day. Im no doctor, so take anything I say with a grain of salt. On a more positive note, I hope you adjust to wearing glasses, as you do look cute in them! I cannot think straight. Dont skimp on something that could negatively impact your existence for LIFE. Welcome! A SECOND PRK SURGERY! 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 is completely normal and should improve with time. By four or five days after surgery your vision begins to clear up, although it may take several weeks to a month to become excellent. At my eye appointment, I asked why I had blurry vision 6 months after PRK. Although laser eye surgery has an extremely high success rate, just as with any other form of surgery, there are risks of complications when it comes to PRK that individuals should be aware of before undergoing this procedure. The initial phase of healing after PRK surgery is essential for its success. BUT I have severe and debilitating photosensitivity. I know I still have about 4.5 months to go but I will probably end up just getting glasses at the end if the vision doesnt stabilize in the future mostly due to how awful and painful the procedure was. I came back within a few days to do it all over again. My prescription is low with a -0.75 in both eyes, a 20/25 visual acuity. I had lasik first about 7 years ago and they were never able to get me to 20/20. The good news is that with a soft contact lens I can see 20/25. Sorry to hear you story.I agree that the percentage of dissatisfaction from prk surgeries is understated .I did mine in 2014 and the recovery was brutal for the first week.The risks and the potential regression that i discovered after the surgery were not discussed by my surgeon.if i come back in time,i wouldnt have done it, considering i has -2 in each of my eyes.After my surgery my right eye is -0.25 and left one is 0.75 eventually i will need glasses again plus i have had dry eyes ever since the surgery. My three month follow up appointment was a lot of the same responses from the doctor. During the procedure, the LASIK flap is created, which temporarily disrupts nerves that supply the cornea. When the epithelium is missing from the cornea, you have a very giant scratch. I am recovering slowly. Thank you Steven. I had to get bifocals at the ripe old age of 32. During this time, you will experience discomfort and very blurry vision after PRK. [Read more about retinal detachment surgery.]. I am literally considering suicide as an out from the pain. Thats why one of my doctor said FML is not require more than 6 weeks so you can stop. Also because its something people cant see, so they dont understand. Still cant see clearly and will not drive at night or during the rain. All Rights Reserved. Definitely do not have any more surgeries! I chose PRK instead of Lasik due to my martial art training. After removing the contacts my vision started to slightly improve but for the last 2 days things are staring to get blurry and double visioned. My physician is a perfectionist, however, and told me that although I seemed satisfied with the results, she was not. I am 46 and had Lasik done about 20 years ago. I was cursing during the whole process literally cursing out loud at the pain while I was laying on the table. LOL). A retinal detachment (also called a detached retina) is a serious medical emergency. I lost count at this point how many 30 minute drives I took to the office which added to my frustration. Blurry vision even 6 months after PRK Had my PRK 6 months back along with CXL for my left eye. They said give it 6 months. Still having significant ghosting especially with reading road signs and traffic lights at night and on 1 drop pred forte for mild haze according to DO. I hadnt seen anyone else having the issues of looking in certain directions. Anyway, I write this comment in hopes that at least someone will read it before making a final decision on prk and think very carefully about whether the risks are worth the potential benefits. They told me I was a candidate for either and ended up with lasik because of the lower healing time (i travel a lot for work). Driving day or night is decent and my eyes are no longer sensitive to head on headlights. Its hard to explain but it took effort to be able to look at the screen. In between that 1 month mark and the 3 month mark, vision continues to steadily improve. 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. I did go ahead with the second surgery and am still walking around with glasses and dry eyes. After the awful recovery and 6 months later my vision was substantially worse than when I started and I needed an enhancement. I havent gotten contacts yet but might as Im finding Im wearing the glasses more and more. Everything You Need To Know About Taking An Eye Exam. I had RK back in 1979. As recovery continues, your eyesight will gradually start to improve. Pretty disconcerting if you ask me. I had PRK done 2.5 weeks ago for myopia (-7.0 both eyes). Have you been back to the doctors office? Having a small scratch will cause some pain and blurred vision, having a giant scratch will cause a lot more. These grafts are the most successful of all tissue transplants. Because it will keep you from having reading glasses until older age! No, it was in Oak Brook. My distance vision is seems to be ok. 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. Most patients who undergo PRK achieve 20/20 vision, with many even seeing better than before their procedure. 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. This epithelium must then heal back. I cant believe my eyes are ruined . You may need to rely on glasses to enhance your vision until your eyes are fully healed. Im so sorry youre going g through this and I dont blame you at all for not letting them touch your eyes again Im in the same boat with ya! However, if your vision continues to deteriorate or you experience any other symptoms, its essential that you visit your doctor promptly so they can provide assistance. I dont recognize my coworkers sometimes from across the room. Id say it was worth it still to have gotten because before I felt absolutely blind without my glasses and they were like Coke bottle thick. It was at my 6 month appt that the doctor finally admitted that I would need a second procedure even though that one didnt work 100% either, but it did help a little. Beware if you have an astigmatism, and or strong prescription because you will need further adjusting which leaves more room for error. Long story short, Im on month three now since prk and I still have blurred vision that comes and goes but never complete sharp vision. There really is no full disclosure when it comes to listing the risks associated with elective refractive surgery such as LASIK, SMILE, PRK, etc. Ive seeing doubles, my eyes are always blurry and I cant even see close. Over 3-5 days, as you heal, your vision will gradual Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? My suggestion is to anyone considering PRK surgery: like the author stated, do your homework because the success rate is extremely exaggerated. You may be a great candidate for a cornea transplant that may restore your vision to 20/20. Since then, Ive been told (does this sound familiar?) I had originally driven there from Cape Town (about a 350 mile drive) to get LASIK as they said Id have no issues driving home the next day (testimonies from friends as well confirming this), but about 15 minutes before the procedure, they said that PRK was far safer for me to get because of the shape of my astigmatisms, so I consented and stayed a few more days in the area. Ill get more info on this on Monday (5/16) and update this update. Keep reading for my full PRK recovery journal, Update as of December 8, 2022: The FDA May Issue Warnings about Lasik. I was 33 at the time of my surgery, good health, had astigmatism in left eye and my prescription was pretty strong, I paid for the best eye surgeons in my state (Virginia), followed all instructions given pre and post surgery to a T, went to all follow up appointments, and I still have lack luster results. Im not holding my breath. Please keep us posted on your progress. Do you have another appointment? If you are experiencing persistent ghosting after PRK, the first step should be to contact your doctor. If I put a soft contact lens on with 0.5 diopters of distance correction, I can see 20/20, but eyeglasses will only get me to 20/40. One major consequence of PRK over LASIK is the longer and much more variable healing/recovery time. I had rk about 20 years ago. I am a 29 y/o woman and I had PRK done about one month back. Day 14 - 33. Your experience is exactly like mine. Again, a little discomfort but no pain. My husband always had perfect vision and is considering Lasik because he should to wear glasses now. Dry eye comes and goes and some days things seem blurier than others. I await your response and thank you for sharing your experience. I hope this helps. But this time the surgeon decided to lift the original flap from the LASIK. There are also rare instances when patients experience changes to night vision, including seeing halos or glare. [Read more about corneal transplant surgery.]. Wow! Finally 2 yrs later I started to really notice myself squinting to see things far away and got to the point I wouldnt drive At all at night. Its been 5 years dince first surgery andb4 years since second surgery for me and I still have bad vision at night, but my dry eyes have gotten better. Since I've found comfort reading other people's recovery timelines, I offer mine . Dry eyes can affect your vision. Dont think there is need to expand here, simply google haze after prk, and youll get plenty of results on this one! It wasnt fun, but it wasnt horrible either. Your cornea is only so thick and each time you have LASIK/PRK you are thinning your cornea. Will these issues resolve? How long ago did you have the surgery and what did your friend, the doctor, say about your complications? If you are like me and still need to wear glasses, check out these. 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 do have a possible procedure to brush the cornea again as something (i cant remember the term he used) is 60 microns thick, while a normal (insert term) should only be 40 microns thick its something on my cornea. I got about 20/25 vision for about a year. My vision now is 20/70 without glasses. PRK has an extremely high patient satisfaction rate and is considered among the safest elective procedures available today. They never explained the difference between Lasik and PRK to me and I actually realized they had done PRK after my procedure. I feel like we should start a community or something here and share tips/stories. I wasnt a candidate for lasik due to this but was for prk. By month 1, vision has sharpened up significantly but it isnt until month 3 that vision no longer becomes blurry. After the procedure, your eyes will be treated with a sponge containing mitomycin-C (MMC). The inflammation is trying to respond to the injury the surgeon created. I had PRK in 1996. Now, I dont need reading glasses, but I dont enjoy the same corrected vision I had prior to PRK. In fact, by about 3 months, the blurry vision after PRK may almost be entirely gone! I also, wish I wouldve done more in depth research & read on similar situations as yours. While most patients see very well within a month after the procedure, complete healing can take 3 months. Those of us that have had horrible experiences need to share with others because I do not feel the eye surgeons are properly informing their patients of the potential risks. It usually takes around 5 to 6 months to last (in most of the cases). Good recommendation, it is shocking how many people have bad outcomes. Ghosting occurs when one eye perceives two slightly different images at once, leading to double or monocular vision (ghosting). Im definitely NOT going back for a third surgery does anyone seeking for legal help for the experience?? I did not tell them about my history until after the consultation. The main difference between LASIK versus PRK is the way the procedure is completed. After cataract surgery, the sun or oncoming car headlights at night can cause light sensitivity (photophobia), resulting in blurry vision. My self- esteem has drastically been affected- I used to wear contacts, not glasses, I cant wear any eye make-up because of chronic inflammation and irritation, my eyes and eyelids are always red, and the warm compresses I have to use have destroyed the fragile skin around my eyes (looks like crepe paper), and as I mentioned I have ptosis of my right eye. 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. I remember feeling SO TIRED. Just like the question, I woke up this morning some eye pain. Its been 3 years now since 2nd round and my eyes still get dry I have to wear sunglasses every time I leave the house AND I barely can wear mascara as for some reason it really bothers my eyes and what girl doesnt LOVE mascara. I do NOT want to go through the PRK surgery EVER again. Kind of strange but very cool at the same time. No reading glasses just yet! While LASIK is the most popular type of refractive correction, PRK (precise refractive keratome) is another popular choice. B) i got 0.25 astigmatism will this also go away ? Be sure to rest your eyes, take prescribed medications and follow your eye doctors instructions. Double vision as well as severe and even permanent dry eye can also occur. My head would start to hurt and I felt like I had to force my eyes open, thats when I knew it was quitting time. 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. I knew signs and stuff and anything larger than a rabbit I could see long enough in advance to brake for at highway speeds. It has been 17 days since my surgery and driving is miserable. Both proved to be wrong so far. He then told me to focus on a target light while he removed the surface layer of the cornea (the corneal epithelium) and then used a laser to reshape the cornea. The first eye, no problems. Its excruciating. But all in all, the recovery and the pain on the second PRK surgery (the enhancement) was far less unpleasant. I think I will need some psychologists sessions after all this It was like having a tic tac! Vision is still not as clear (crisp) as it used to be when I wore glasses. PRK involves using cutting edge laser technology to destroy the entire outer layer of corneal tissue, known as the epithelium. Its yet again, another story where someone is struggling so much after this procedure. Im now 6 weeks post surgery#2. In fact, 9 out of 10 people who get PRK to improve their vision experience 20/40 vision or better within six months of the procedure. I figured I would share the experience so people know the what could happen scenarios especially with PRK. My vision at computer screen distance is very unclear (blurry and double vision) 18 days after my PRK surgery. Its like a dentist visit one persons cavity or root canal can be totally different than another! 2.5 mos after wavefront optimized PRK with alcon excimer 5000. Im now 16 days out from my surgery. I wish I would have read this story before I had PRK surgery. Qualified patients must book their procedure by 2/28/2023. His practice has changed a little but I trusted him. Also for my anger to subside, because let me tell you, there was a lot of anger, disappointment, and utter dismay. So when my distance vision started getting a little blurry, I went back to the same surgeon. now instead of headaches from glasses I get them from light and dryness or eye. Have been 2m on fml eye drops, now stopped, a very slight/little haze left (physician says it shouldnt bother me at all). If the vision remains blurry, then it could be due to an issue with healing of the new epithelium beneath your bandage contact lens. As the corneal tissue heals, your vision can seem blurred. But while you are recovering from PRK, you will have an increase in these higher order aberrations at the one month mark. I dont blame you on the second surgery. Blood vessels in the retina can leak, causing fluid to build up and blurring your vision. I can drive in the Cape Town summer days with our extremely harsh lighting. Thanks for sharing Liza! I really hope my eyes dont continue to get worse again. Blurred vision after cataract surgery can also be caused by a problem called PCO, or posterior capsule opacity. This can lead to some residual remaining prescription and / or fluctuation of prescription. It takes time to recover from PRK. 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. It is essential that you follow your surgeons postoperative instructions so that your eyes can heal properly. What do you mean by very big number? 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 now have an astigmatism in my left eye, my eyes are drastically different from each other in prescriptions, and I cant see close or far without glasses. And only the healing time and potential complications differ. 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. Have all the side effects you speak of still to this day. I hope I can get a much clearer vision soon so that I can resume work. my left eye is useless except for the range from 100mm to about 300mm. Going into PRK, expect to have blurry vision for quite a while. My price was around $3K. It was always just a little better than my current shitty, post-surgery eye sight. Thats gotten better as well. Hi Vivi. Femtosecond lasers enable epithelial cell regeneration at an accelerated pace; you may even be able to use a special nighttime eyedrop for several months in order to reduce its impact on vision. Im so sorry Shannon. No one had ever talked about regression. Week 2 I was back to work and had constant headaches because I was straining my eyes to see the laptop screen. Im 2 years post PRK and my eyes are better, but will never be normal again. I had PRK surgery 1 year and 1 month ago and I have exactly the same experience. But there is more than just objective numbers..and subjectively, vision may be very close but may not fully seem 100%. . 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. Many people I spoke to before the procedure were extremely uncomfortable with the idea of someone touching and messing with my eyes. I did not feel comfortable driving and my eyes themselves felt extremely sensitive to the touch. I suggest you get a second opinion from a doctor who is not in the office where you had your LASIK done. Ill take everyones advice and not roll the dice with PRK. This layer serves as the skin-like layer of our cornea. My vision is better than I had with glasses or contacts, but still fluctuates a tiny bit on various days, and I dont really have dry eyeswhich is rather surprising. I got glasses, and it was amazing what I could see. Prayers. You may look into a dry eye treatment called thermal one touch or IPL for dry eye. Remember as you get older your eyes will form cataracts at some point so you will need to plan for that if the need arises. In conclusion, I am improving very slowly. The first week things will be the most blurry. Irregular astigmatism can potentially occur as well as reduced contrast sensibility, seeing glares and halos, reduced visual acuity, and overcorrection and undercorrection.
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