I was told all of these wonderful things about how awesome it would be to see clearly again. I was not a candidate for LASIK due to thin corneas. What is causing blurry vision 2 months after PRK. According to a student in Clinical Ophthalmology, only around 6.8 percent of patients pursue retreatment after PRK myopic correction. [Read more about retinal detachment surgery.]. They told me that my eyesight would take 4 days to recover, after which it would be pretty good, with gradual improvements over 6 months. Please help. Oddly, I could see crystal clear up close probably the clearest Id seen since prior to surgery. My story is very complicated. Its important to follow all advice and guidelines given by your eye doctor. Then I was told I needed an Astromal puncture, so I had that done. I didnt want to get my hopes up so I took that with a grain of salt and prepared myself for the worst. It is so frustrating and disappointing. It felt like something was stuck in there and not getting out. Anywhere I inhabit is littered with the tiny plastic bottles of preservative free eye drops. Importantly, you should only drive if you can see well enough to drive . See the Disclaimer and Terms of Use for more information. LASIK is a brief, painless procedure commonly performed to treat nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. Now they want me to have a second surgery and I have not accepted it. 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. PRK is also generally less expensive than LASIK. This occurs in about 15% of patients who have cataract surgery. Having a small scratch will cause some pain and blurred vision, having a giant scratch will cause a lot more. Blurred vision after cataract surgery can also be caused by a problem called PCO, or posterior capsule opacity. However, heres the thing. Day 14 - 33. After your PRK surgery, you should be able to see clearly within 2-5 weeks. I followed all directions and went in for follow-up appointments as directed. Most of my day is spent with my right eye closed. For most people, vision remains blurred while your eye adjusts to the new implant. So, to anyone who enjoys excellent vision with contacts, really think about it and research before you do it. This article may contain links to products on Amazon.com. Just when it would get bad it would be time for more drops which made them feel better. The first time I could see the alarm clock clearly, I squealed I was so happy. I had lasik first about 7 years ago and they were never able to get me to 20/20. Is this normal? I was so so frustrated through this process and my blood is boiling for you reading about your experience so far. It felt like I was being tortured on a rack of sorts! Contact an eye doctor if you need medical attention. Do I need an enhancement? But there is more than just objective numbers..and subjectively, vision may be very close but may not fully seem 100%. I got a second opinion from world renowned Mayo Clinic and the recommendation stated forgetaboutit. The clinic told me it would be around a 5 day recovery. I had a horrible first few weeks. And if your night vision has improved? Pretty upset. Six years later I still feel like my eyes are healing. Its yet again, another story where someone is struggling so much after this procedure. I had PRK in 2017. Thats why one of my doctor said FML is not require more than 6 weeks so you can stop. Irregular astigmatism can potentially occur as well as reduced contrast sensibility, seeing glares and halos, reduced visual acuity, and overcorrection and undercorrection. I still cannot believe how many of us there are and yet no major changes in the field. It got a little bit more taxing now that the anti-inflammatory drops have finished, but at least I was forewarned about how difficult recovery would be. How are you both healing? Ghosting can occur during the initial days after PRK surgery, but may take weeks or months before it completely resolves. Im glad it all worked out. Current rx: plano, -1.25 and plano, -1.00? But it is still normal to have blurry vision one month out. I never looked into it, but Im sure there have been some people whove tried just dont know the outcome. Answer: No particular reason. You should see some improvement in the next 2-3 months. Or another PRK surgery. I wear sunglasses outside but I see better with more light. 2 weeks? These nerves usually regenerate in the first three to six months after surgery. Unlike most folks, I was born with a + number in both eyes. It feels like a nerve problem. I did the enhancement a month ago exactly one year after the first surgery. 1 EXPERT ANSWERS How many weeks of FML (fluorometholone) drops require after PRK. But turns out there is another layer in the way called epithelium. 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. But being so affected seems indeed to be quite rare. I wasnt able to go to my 3-month follow-up with the eye surgeon due to a stomach flu but it was postponed to January 7th. Like you, I had PRK surgery. Of course I can see 10 times better when wear the glasses. Im doubtful of 20/15 but would be grateful. Posted by Otto Olivier | Eye Diseases | 0. Now I am 3 years post op Im still experiencing this. The first eye, no problems. can you plz tell me about the third day in a lil more detail. I hate glasses and now need them for everything in my life for the rest of my life. Hello guys, Im having my PRK scheduled in three days. Ghosting occurs when one eye perceives two slightly different images at once, leading to double or monocular vision (ghosting). Have you ever sued your eye doctor? I did see the headings and photos and knew I was better off not reading in detail about your horrible experience. . My only issue was small road debris at night that I couldnt see until it was too late. Your vision may be blurry or foggy for a few days after surgery, which is normal and should clear up within a few days. Was he on Washington? I too am having problems look straight on or upwards. Before surgery Iwas -7.50 in left and 5.50 on right. Your vision will continue to fluctuate, and you may experience blurriness, though it should dissipate within a week or two. Problem with street and car lights in night. 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. +5 and +5.5 with a high astigmatism. I did go ahead with the second surgery and am still walking around with glasses and dry eyes. 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. Maybe there should be a list with LASIK/PRK surgeons like the healthgrades website. Dry eyes are also less likely to develop after PRK surgery than they are after LASIK. There is a slightly higher risk of infection with the PRK procedure than there is with LASIK. My main concern is : 1 # Will the glasses compromise my healing process and 2# My vision seems worse when I remove them glasses . I cant imagine going through all that. I had LASIK in 2006 and have had no problems whatsoever. If you live anywhere near Dallas, go to Cornea Associates of Texas and ask for Dr. Pretty disconcerting if you ask me. Im, I did a lasik 3 years ago and my eyes got a little bad so I went back for a PRK. Heres the interesting part: If I put some eyedrops in that eye, I can see 20/20. Also because its something people cant see, so they dont understand. It does not appear to be getting any better, either. Think we maybe went to the same dr in Chicago. I got glasses, and it was amazing what I could see. Cant touch my eyelids, an eyelash feels like a knife, and onions are acid. I am praying it gets better as well. Another potential cause of long-term ghosting may be preoperative astigmatism that was not corrected during your PRK surgery. You will need to wear sunglasses all the time while outdoors even on cloudy days for three weeks to a month. After the surgery, your eye might be covered with a plastic shield or an eye pad, which should be removed the day after the procedure. At my eye appointment, I asked why I had blurry vision 6 months after PRK. Ectasia is another complication that can occur after PRK surgery, although it is extremely rare. When PCO develops, the cloudy capsule in the back of the lens begins to form. Hi Renee, Are contact lenses a good choice for kids? It is such a slow-going recovery. Thank you so much for commenting. 2000-2023 AAV Media, LLC. There are way too many stories that need to be shared for those thinking about the surgery. so I will be trying daily contacts in the near future. Im sure you can guess what comes next. 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! Vision stays blurry, and isn't even as clear as days 9-10 waking up. Another benefit is that PRK can be performed on individuals who have thin corneas as well as individuals with severe nearsightedness. Everyones experience is different just as the pain level. Ive been wearing them the last few months and love them! Do not get any elective eye surgery. Im not holding my breath. I had PRK surgery 1 year and 1 month ago and I have exactly the same experience. 92% of PRK patients get 20/40 vision or better. 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. My doctor saved my cornea, but the irregular astigmatism was awful. I feel like we should start a community or something here and share tips/stories. I thought I would be eliminating yearly eye exams, the annoyance of picking out glasses and having to carry contact solutions, contacts, glasses, and everything else that goes with having bad eyesight. I am so sorry youre going through this and really hope it gets better. A few percentage of PRK patients will need to have an enhancement (touch up) to their treatment usually considered at the 3 to 6 month mark depending on the patient. In most cases, symptoms clear up within a few weeks; however, some individuals may need up to two or three months before complete resolution occurs. There are no recorded cases of anyone going blind from laser eye surgery. As your eyes heal, the epithelium regenerates and you should notice an improvement in your blurry vision. One feared issue with PRK is the development of haze. Everyday when I wake up I am reminded of my mistake and then begins the battle of what I could possibly do to improve my condition. I have myopia of -8.50 and -7.50 (Im 23 y/o) and I was told that PRK and ICL are my only options. Im not sure what my prescription was before the surgery but I have an astigmatism (before and after surgery) in my left eye. 2 co-workers had LASIK from the same Dr. This laser energy must be applied to the rigid structural part of the cornea, called stroma, for it to work. My sensitivity to light got better every day but my eyes would still tear up on super sunny days. Cant describe the pain and the medication Ive had to take. I started to get a little anxious during this time, especially when reading some recovery logs with quicker recovery time. I had so much time and energy invested in something I thought was going to take a week! As a result, the eye dries out easier until this all heals up. Good luck with your recovery. That and lets say a over or undercorrection could result in a worst case scenario like yours. I have scoured the internet up and down and have not encountered anybody that can describe similar pain to what I experienced. I only use them every once in awhile now 5 years later. Unclear near vision 18 days after PRK laser eye surgery - Is this normal? Candace, youre definitely not alone. Being extremely near sighted makes me eager more and more to do the surgery but after reading this article and the replies Im really hesitant. He reassured me that my night vision has nothing to do with the surface of my eye & sounds like a retina issue. Was supposed to get LASIK. After the. But i am getting epitheal erossions. PRK has certain benefits when compared to LASIK and other forms of refractive surgery. Is this normal?? Any advice? I even had to get an enhancement on my left eye 7 months ago (July 2021) due to residual astigmatism. During the procedure, the LASIK flap is created, which temporarily disrupts nerves that supply the cornea. My first week of recovery was similar to yours, except I didnt have any pain meds, anti anxiety meds, or sleeping pills before or after surgery. I paid $3,363.12 including a discount of $1,000 for my type of insurance to correct my nearsightedness (-5.50 in both eyes). I see better in humid climates. 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. No as one of the papers I signed was basically a liability waiver like most procedures. However, I did get a second opinion from another doctor who specializes in fitting scleral lenses for ppl who have similar issues to mine after PRK. Ive learned an important lesson: Dont ask or listen to other peoples experiences because everyone reacts differently to procedure and pain. You have certainly been through the wringer! Well, it seems that a PRK surgery was inevitable to you. that it will heal, but that everyones recovery can be different. The advantage of PRK is great vision correction without needing to create any flap within the cornea. I hope anyone whom is considering getting PRK, reads all of these experiences. How long have you worked at your clinic? One morning I woke up and realized I could see clearly. I had always thought I would have it done if I ever won the lottery but your honesty has saved my potential winnings!! So, if you are thinking about doing a PRK surgery, these are my recommendations when you SHOULDNT EVEN CONSIDER doing it: I was very hesitant and still cant believe I went through with it but all I kept thinking was about how I spent so much money that they should fix their wrong! I probably spend about the same amount in dry eye drops as I would in contact solution ( the point was to save money over time with not having to buy all these extra things). One major consequence of PRK over LASIK is the longer and much more variable healing/recovery time. But there's more that blurs vision. This blurs vision temporarily until blinking restores a smooth tear film. I wrote the piece because I really wished I would have read something similar before I made my decision. This can be quite frustrating for those experiencing it first-hand. For example, if you dont properly care for your eyes following surgery, your risk of infection is higher, and this can lead to serious eye damage. Fingers crossed that you recover in the next six months. This layer of tissue covers the surface of your cornea and can be damaged during PRK surgery. I wore sunglasses the minute I got outside since bright lights still bothered me and any wind blowing in my eyes felt terrible. Them feel better cornea and can be performed on individuals who have surgery. Small scratch will cause a lot more July 2021 ) due to thin corneas as well as with! My hopes up so I went back for a PRK have Read something similar before I made decision! Corrected during your PRK surgery than they are after LASIK some eyedrops in that,! 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Leading to double or monocular vision ( ghosting ) lenses a good choice kids!