Fortunately this heals up. 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. Blurry vision after PRK laser eye surgery This may take anywhere from a few weeks to a maximum of six months. You may be a great candidate for a cornea transplant that may restore your vision to 20/20. And then had to wait about an hour to be taken back which is when I started feeling a little nervous. I cannot think straight. Like I could barely keep my eyes open. Developing haze long after PRK can cause the prescription to regress, cause extra glare and cause the vision to be blurry. Welcome! Of course I can see 10 times better when wear the glasses. The number of drops was tiered over the course of 7 days with the numbing one only to be used a few times when in pain. I used to love travel but I cant imagine going to places like Iceland again because I would never be able to see it again like I did when I had gone before. On the surface of the eye is a tear film. Dont think there is need to expand here, simply google haze after prk, and youll get plenty of results on this one! Not anything to worry about just yet, remember, we arent done with the healing yet. And is it only in the eye you had the touch up done in? It will blur your vision, so put it in right before bed Run the tube under hot tap water for 20 seconds to thin it out Use the smallest possible amount just inside your eyelids Artificial tears in the morning may help wash it out Wash you face normally help remove it from your eyelids Punctal plugs: this sounds scary, but is super easy. Seems to be one of the worst decision Ive ever made. Compared to mt left eye, my reading distance is somewhat blurry and NOT crisp! 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. The doctor told me thats normal and nothing he can do about getting older. Both PRK, which stands for Photorefractive Keratectomy, and LASIK are laser vision correction procedures performed to correct eyesight. How many weeks of FML is sufficient. I hope the proposed FDA Draft Guidance gets approved so that patients receive all associated risks so patients can make a well-informed decision on whether they want to move forward with LASIK. During this timeframe, your eyes can be dry, leading to blurry or fluctuating vision. Keep reading for my full PRK recovery journal, Update as of December 8, 2022: The FDA May Issue Warnings about Lasik. That is when the one in my right eye failed. Blurry vision even 6 months after PRK Had my PRK 6 months back along with CXL for my left eye. Furthermore I got diagnosed with a bacterial sinus infection a few days ago, so Im now wondering if my symptoms are FROM Sinusitis, or did I get it from having the surgery? I hope people find and read it! Your vision may appear slightly blurry due to the healing of the top layer of the eye. Are you experiencing continuous blurry vision? I do not mince words with them or anyone else and I let my anger show from time to time. Thats a lot of money to spend on a horrible experience and still bad vision. I hope this helps and is a little bit of encouragement. During the second week, I could get on the computer a little longer (about an hour to an hour and a half), but my eyes were still extremely sensitive to light and I still felt worn out after screen time. The days leading up to the surgery and the day of were very similar to yours no contacts before the surgery, someone to drive you, spend the day in bed sleeping after the surgery, dont get your eyes wet for at least 3 days, use the drops, etc. Im going for a second opinion, see what other docs have to say about my results and future treatments. Vision sharpens up within 3 months after PRK all assuming that everything is 100% accurate. As with any surgery, there are always risks of complications unfortunately. Should I be worried? It felt like someone was pouring acid in my eyes. The amount of time required to heal can be frustrating. I went to an eye surgeon in Arlington Heights, Dr. Thomas Koziol, who is now retired. This has been a huge hardship for my family. (Note: I did have an astigmatism in the left eye before this). The retinas light-sensitive cells, the rods and cones, are still recovering. While LASIK is the most popular type of refractive correction, PRK (precise refractive keratome) is another popular choice. How blurry? The experience has taken such a heavy toll on my mental health. Ugh, Kim, this makes me so angry to hear. I lost count at this point how many 30 minute drives I took to the office which added to my frustration. The most common issues are corneal haze, infection after the surgery, and overcorrections and undercorrections. I did not have dry eyes before the surgery but do now. Hi Renee, Benefits of the PRK procedure include less risk of overcorrection. My left eye is still great. It does not appear to be getting any better, either. I got PRK because I couldnt stand the headaches glasses would give me. Posterior Capsule Opacity (PCO) is another common complication that can occur when a cloudy layer of scar tissue forms behind the lens implant. The LASIK doctors are pretty much protected from a legal standpoint because of the consents that are signed before surgery. Ive been put in contacts to see if they can help sand down the build up of tissue that has formed in response to the procedure. I wish more stories like this were out there to save us from this misery! I know a few people who had no issues at all but also a few like me whove had nothing but issues. These nerves usually regenerate in the first three to six months after surgery. My main concern is : 1 # Will the glasses compromise my healing process and 2# My vision seems worse when I remove them glasses . It's nerve-racking having blurry vision weeks and even months after surgery. Where do you live? Im now 6 weeks post surgery#2. Its been 3 months and my visual acuity is 20/20, but not as crisp & sharp as my glasses. Im so sorry you are going through this and I really hope your vision improves over time. You may never see well again. The discomfort can be alleviated to some degree by using eye drops that work towards numbing the eye and stopping the tears. i consulted with my doctor, he was saying it will be recover itself. They want me to come back in a year to see where my eyes are. What do you mean by very big number? 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. After prk I had blurred vision which left me debilitated because of headaches and difficulty working on my computer. The assistant blew me off, but when she examined me she realized that I had a corneal erosion (not just an abrasion). Fingers crossed that you recover in the next six months. Once I arrived home, I climbed in bed, took my sleeping pill as directed, and slept for about six hours straight. There are currently 9 PRK Laser Eye Surgery + 2 Months Post-op questions and doctor answers on RealSelf. Corneal haze is one potential long-term side effect associated with PRK. Pain and discomfort are the most common side effects associated with PRK surgery. All those things are just something I used to enjoy and now will probably be selling pay for anything that would help restore my vision and take away the pain. At the very least, I hope all our stories will help someone make the right decision regarding their eyes. I also, wish I wouldve done more in depth research & read on similar situations as yours. So, if you are thinking about doing a PRK surgery, these are my recommendations when you SHOULDNT EVEN CONSIDER doing it: I also like to share my PRK surgery story. Not to mention, it is my eyes which I was nervous about in the first place. Im so sorry youre going through this Renee. PRK was the original laser eye surgery, and soon after LASIK followed suit. Think we maybe went to the same dr in Chicago. I had prk 2 years ago instead of lasik due to my brother and dad both having a genetic disorder that causes the cornea to be very thin. This can be quite frustrating for those experiencing it first-hand. Im hoping I just havent healed all the way yet. 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. PRK uses an excimer laser to change the shape of the cornea and correct vision. If youre experiencing a medical issue, please contact a healthcare professional or dial 911 immediately. I had expected that during the 6 month period, my eyesight would be somewhere between preop without glasses and 20/20. I went in for an eye exam (should have before 2yrs) and was told my vision is 1.5 in one eye and -1.5 in another eye so I got glasses and they make a huge difference. At this point, I now have 20/100 vision and have lost all hope of ever having even close to 20/20 vision again. I dont think so. I hope this helps. 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. Good luck to you as well. I began to worry and get frustrated when my vision did not start to stabilize in the third week. Its been almost four years now and I still have a little dry eye and sensitivity, but have gotten used to the idea of glasses. Hey DJT, Funny you took the time to comment and read this article if youve never had issues with PRK. Thats why one of my doctor said FML is not require more than 6 weeks so you can stop. Now I am 3 years post op Im still experiencing this. i was certain if i did go forward i would only do one eye at a time but realized i wont have enough days off left off to take anyway, so that was that. With PRK, rather than forming a flap, the top surface (epithelium) is scraped away. Ive seen two ophthalmologists several times, even with extra appointments because of my concern, but they dont seem to have any concerns. As a result, the eye dries out easier until this all heals up. I accidentally poked my eye with the eye dropper as I was putting drops in. I always wore super magnified looking glasses, which always made me fee super self conscious. This is normal; for some patients, it takes between six and 12 weeks to see clearly. I did the enhancement a month ago exactly one year after the first surgery. Need drops several times a day. Most importantly, if you decide to go for PRK over LASIK, be mentally prepared to deal with the possibility of dealing with a longer recovery time that may even stretch till 9 to 12 months in the worst case scenario. More than 50% blurred vision for first 3 days. Updated August 2022. Here I am, shortly after the 3 month-post PRK surgery mark. These grafts are the most successful of all tissue transplants. did you have a prior surgery before prk. How older drivers can improve their driving at night. She confirmed my suspicion that I needed glasses or contacts to gain a 20/20 outlook. If that doesnt work, it in for a second procedure. I definitely agree we have to all share so people are aware of whats going on. Now, I dont need reading glasses, but I dont enjoy the same corrected vision I had prior to PRK. They wanted $160 after several discounts applied and I said to them, Im not paying that much for some temporary vision and I left. Who do I talk to, to get reimbursed for the prescription because there is NO WAY Im paying for all this again! But fortunately even that resolves by 6 months after PRK. Its sad to see that this woman had such a hard time, but my vision sucks and has sucked for 1ike 15 years so Im probably gonna pull the trigger on the PRK soon. 8 month update I went to my ophthalmologist and he stated that I now have +4 farsighted in both eyes with astigmatisms. They said give it 6 months. And because everyone has to sign a waiver releasing the practice and surgeon from any wrongdoing prior to the procedure, there is nothing I can do about it. My vision is definitely much better than it used to be without glasses, but 10 weeks out, I am not seeing anywhere as good as I was able to with glasses. I had LASIK in 2019 and have been going back every 6 months because my eyes backslid. The patient. Im glad you posted your experience. Angela. *Participation Varies and not all locations participate in this $1000 discount program or VSP member discounts. This also came true. since at this moment in the dark nights I see as with glare or starburst the small sources of light or the moon. Because I had blurry vision 2 weeks after PRK, I still needed someone to drive me to my third appointment which I had on Day 27 where the doctor assured me everything was right on track. Once that surface heals over, vision steadily improves. Keep the visual demands on your eyes to a minimum. Patients often choose these procedures to enhance their quality of life; however, sometimes the treatments may cause blurry vision commonly referred to as ghosting. Anywhere I inhabit is littered with the tiny plastic bottles of preservative free eye drops. My husband had LASIK from the same Dr. months before and was very happy. 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. Until your vision becomes stable you will.. => Read Now PRK Recovery & Tips | Blurry Vision After PRK? I am still unable to drive at all, and my computer usage is very limited. Please keep us posted on your situation. It was horrible and took months for my eyes to stabilize. Pretty upset. All in all, if I could do it over again, I wouldnt. Doctors just keep saying more time more time. I wanted to try getting contacts and he ordered some trial contact lenses for me but get this when I tried them on, it was as if I was nearsighted again and everything was blurry at distances. If I dart my eyes quickly I can get my eyes to sting. I went through the same light sensitivity issues but it lasted only about ten days. Just like the question, I woke up this morning some eye pain. Ill summarize here as this story is getting quite long. Author has 101 answers and 241.3K answer views 6 y About one month. Read 9 Doctor Answers Poor Vision After PRK. When I had to look into the eye test thing. So sorry to hear that KS. 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. It usually takes a few days to weeks for these new layers to cover and thicken your cornea, eliminating ghosting in the process. That was a little over a month ago. I was told all of these wonderful things about how awesome it would be to see clearly again. In fact, by about 3 months, the blurry vision after PRK may almost be entirely gone! Boy was I wrong, PRK recovery was not what I expected at all! I want my true vision and even now rather my natural vision over corrected. All my symptoms remained the same as month one and two. Also because its something people cant see, so they dont understand. What is your age range Anthony? Every NVISION patient is different. Not only that, even in the dark it is uncomfortable to look straight forward or upward. I had the consultation planned for the Tuesday, surgery on Thursday and work the following week. After cataract surgery, the sun or oncoming car headlights at night can cause light sensitivity (photophobia), resulting in blurry vision. He told me everyone heals at a different pace. Here is what you can expect at each stage after PRK. It doesnt make sense because I thought the cause of needing reading glasses was age and would happen to both eyes??? The majority of patients achieve up to 20/20 vision with PRK. I ran into some extra money and decided to take the leap again. My vision was -8.5 in both eyes. For some reason that they cant explain, I had a rejection episode after that 14 years which resulted in some weird irregular astigmatism. After the surgery, I went to another eye physician for a consultation, and he told me, that small numbers (around 1) ARE A GIFT! Your vision becomes blurry. I know I have a while yet to heal, but I feel really desperate. Ghosting occurs when one eye perceives two slightly different images at once, leading to double or monocular vision (ghosting). Why is this? I too am having problems look straight on or upwards. Please keep us posted on your progress. These changes to vision can be permanent. Anyone experience the same?? .y eyes feels like they dont work in sync because of this discrepancy. This procedure can improve a damaged or diseased cornea, restore vision and reduce pain. Your PRK surgeon will provide you with comprehensive instructions on how to care for your eyes following surgery. This blurs vision temporarily until blinking restores a smooth tear film. Also he told me that as I get older I would need glasses. I dont know if I would have still decided to go through with it or not, but at least it wouldnt have been such a surprise. An advantage is NOT quick recovery. This procedure is one of the best ways to correct visual impairment and is quickly becoming popular around the world. 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