But all in all, the recovery and the pain on the second PRK surgery (the enhancement) was far less unpleasant. My vision in dim lighting isnt good either, as if its a bit more dark. These changes to vision can be permanent. Think we maybe went to the same dr in Chicago. Just in time for my three-month hiking trip in Spain. I hate this medical gaslighting. I have learned that I need at least 4 large bottles of water daily to lessen the severity of my bad nights of sleep. A few minutes later, I was led into a surgical room. Visual clarity and crispness after PRK continue to improve for three to six months and then stabilize. Six years later I still feel like my eyes are healing. All Rights Reserved. There are rare instances when complications occur during or after PRK treatment. Vision stays blurry, and isn't even as clear as days 9-10 waking up. I await your response and thank you for sharing your experience. Hi Vivi. No, its not crisp, but if this is the vision I had the rest of my life, I would be fine with it happy with it even. Having a small scratch will cause some pain and blurred vision, having a giant scratch will cause a lot more. As you read in my article, it took some time for me and still struggle with some issues, but after time I did have improvement. Day 14 - 33. THANK GOD FOR THAT ONE! Your vision will blur for a few minutes immediately after you use them but the effect lasts so much longer than normal eye drops. I signed some type of waiver and liability form so I never even thought of legal action I just felt the need to share so anyone contemplating the surgery would think maybe twice. Keep in communication with your eye doctor, and schedule a comprehensive eye exam if symptoms persist. I cant imagine how I lived for the past 6 weeks because I cant see! Read More. In December 2009, my eyesight started to travel backwards. This symptom, which occurs most often in patients with light-colored (blue or green) irises, can be managed with sunglasses or with a prescribed eye drop that reduces pupil size. Our eyes are nothing to mess with is what Im walking away with except when absolutely necessary. You may never see well again. Please keep us posted so many stories out there. Too thin and you run the risk of conditions like kerataconis. I cannot think straight. Whenever you are going for PRK, be sure to conduct a thorough research about the clinics in your area and the expertise of the doctors who are going to conduct the surgery. 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. She confirmed my suspicion that I needed glasses or contacts to gain a 20/20 outlook. Learn more at What YOU Can Expect With Post PRK Haze. I am literally considering suicide as an out from the pain. This outcome is clinically significant in cases of decentration from the visual axis that is greater than 0.5 mm. PRK is also generally less expensive than LASIK. It is only fair in the first few days, and you should refrain from driving a car. 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. And its all because PRK, Nothing is as hotly as debated as a topic (at least in the world of vision, more likely to have LESS bothersome symptoms, an increase in these higher order aberrations. My job choices are now extremely limited. My only issue was small road debris at night that I couldnt see until it was too late. Author has 101 answers and 241.3K answer views 6 y About one month. Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? And suffer the same complications as you. 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. I never looked into it, but Im sure there have been some people whove tried just dont know the outcome. Stages of Recovery Stage 1 - After the procedure has been done, the vision surprisingly clears up within minutes and provides a better view than LASIK. Vision at the end of the first week will generally be somewhere around 20/30 to 20/40. 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. 1. I wear readers (as expected) for seeing up close reading, using phone and computer usage at work/home. 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!! Most people can see well enough for daily activities like driving, reading and watching TV within the first week after surgery; however, it takes several weeks or months before you achieve perfect vision. Im not certain what I am going to do at this point. Does it take this much time to heal. And only the healing time and potential complications differ. Is this normal?? But this time the surgeon decided to lift the original flap from the LASIK. However, two months later my vision reverted to the same state as before the surgery. On the day of my surgery, I arrived with my contacts out, no makeup or lotion in comfy clothes, with a driver (my husband), and with the prescriptions, we picked up beforehand. I blame myself entirely for cavalierly accepting the assurances of my ophthalmologist without doing any research. Your eye doctor can treat this condition with eye drops, but it can take weeks or months to heal. I had a corneal transplant due to keratoconus 20 years ago. I am so sorry youre going through this and really hope it gets better. My left eye is 20/20, not blurry at all. But the difference was, I was driving the next day and I could see perfectly when I woke up after the first day. blurry vision, discomfort, and . These grafts are the most successful of all tissue transplants. Thanks for sharing your story with us Rachel! I hope you find peace. 8 month update I went to my ophthalmologist and he stated that I now have +4 farsighted in both eyes with astigmatisms. Dr. Horn in Oakbrook..dik! An even higher percentage of patients report 20/40 vision or better. Posterior Capsule Opacity (PCO) is another common complication that can occur when a cloudy layer of scar tissue forms behind the lens implant. Im feeling pretty frustrated and low right now. I work at a computer all day and have not been able to return to work because of this. Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc.. 2022 Foxiz News Network. 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. I am a 29 y/o woman and I had PRK done about one month back. Thanks so much for sharing this information Anna! Please do not do it. I dont know why my experience was so horrible when all Ive heard were good things. So far so good. Dry eye it varies, but hadnt such a problem before. Ugh! Diman, did your close vision ever get better? I cant imagine going through all that. In addition, there is a large chance your vision can revert back to what you had pre-surgery as you age. Everything is difficult vs blurred eyes. While much of this heals up within the first 3 months, some can notice dry eye beyond (especially those who noticed some dry eye beforehand). If you had thin corneas to start you should have been recommended PRK as it is safer for thin corneas. I am sorry to hear that you were unhappy with your experience but I cant help but feel jealous of your success. They ALWAYS tell you just the 5% develops these complications but I honestly think its a huge BS. I feel like my life are completely ruined and im thinking about ending my life, Josh please, please, please do not. I dont know if I could have taken any more than that. The rest of the week my vision would come and go. After a few weeks, everything was good for about six years. I had rk about 20 years ago. So my husband was able to watch the entire thing. Consult with a doctor virtually or in person. When I decided to have surgery, I had about 20/80 distance vision corrected to 20/20 with glasses/contacts, needed a +2.50 correction for reading, and used yet a third pair of glasses for computer work. That is absolutely the question everyone should be asking themselves. This is VITAL to your recovery. Resume driving only when advised by your doctor and when you feel confident and safe. I had a horrible first few weeks. I also have a desk job that requires 8 hours of computer use everyday in the office. My price was around $3K. Oh wow Lisa, what a long road. Fingers crossed that you recover in the next six months. The information provided on this page should not be used in place of information provided by a doctor or specialist. Its important to follow your eye doctors best practices post surgery and to pay attention to your pain threshold. There are several eye surgeries and procedures including cataract, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and certain restorative eye surgeries like retinal detachment surgery that can cause temporary blurry vision. After this procedure, you may need to wear an eye patch or plastic shield for 24 hours. I slept off and on for most of the first two days with mild discomfort here and there. Youre not so young healing of our body is worsening as we get older, and risk for complications arises! Most patients who undergo PRK achieve 20/20 vision, with many even seeing better than before their procedure. Hi. He told me everyone heals at a different pace. I still cannot believe the number of people this has affected. And now to begin my infuriating experience. [Read more about cataract surgery recovery.]. healing and visual recovery take longer because the outer layer of the cornea needs to regenerate itself. This article may contain links to products on Amazon.com. I am too scared to get prk again after the pain I had and recovery time and my eye doctor (different guy than prk doctor) doesnt think Id have great luck with it if I didnt the first time. The doctor said, I should be have been recovered already & that perhaps its due to dry eyes. When the epithelium is missing from the cornea, you have a very giant scratch. Vision at this stage of the recovery is better than how was before the surgery, but it is still blurry enough not to consider as perfect eyesight. My night vision is worse than before surgery. Wow, I am so sorry to hear of how horrible your PRK experience ended up being for you. Type 2 (late-onset corneal haze) occurs after three months and persists longer than three years. Fortunately, once those twelve hours were over, the pain subsided. Again, this is incredibly rare. Initial vision was very blurry, but I was told that the vision would improve with time. Wow, your experience is so similar. But it can take a lot longer if there is haze or scarring of the cornea. And at the one month, the prescription isnt yet stable. 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. So sorry you are having such trouble. Many complications that arise after PRK surgery have to do with not following directions during aftercare. You should see some improvement in the next 2-3 months. This is the 6 weeks after the surgery and my vision is way worse than before. So infuriating! Avoid activities that cause eye strain or put you at risk of experiencing any sort of impact. This should be read by anybody who is considering this procedure. Vision can become blurry or fluctuate when the eye dries out. In April 2021 I convinced him to try PRK one more time and after seven months of healing, my vision is about 20/70. You are blessed with glasses. The doctor told me they could take me in for another go once my eyes stabilize but she said if I was Ok with the glasses she wouldnt recommend it since I started with such a high number the first time. Hope you get better and your message raises awareness regarding those surgeries. 3. In addition to all these new expenses, I have been forced to decrease my work hours due to the pain and burning in my eyes. Detailed, precise vision may be slightly diminished. Vision is still not as clear (crisp) as it used to be when I wore glasses. 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. This is the whole reason I shared my story because I felt like I read nothing like it on the internet before going through with the procedure. These two different measurements are called lower-order aberrations and can easily be corrected with glasses and surgery because they are symmetric and regular. What may recover in just a few weeks may take as much as six months as the worst case scenario. There are many reasons PRK may be recommended. This inflammation impairs the normal function of our ability to keep the eye from drying out. The LASIK doctors are pretty much protected from a legal standpoint because of the consents that are signed before surgery. The bright sun was HORRIBLE. I got PRK because I couldnt stand the headaches glasses would give me. Its been 3 months and my visual acuity is 20/20, but not as crisp & sharp as my glasses. 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. Since different people have had different recovery timelines, it is important to remember that the timing is extremely variable. 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. Also, use all eye drops and prescriptions exactly as recommended. They keep telling me I am still healing, but I am starting to feel doubtful and feel that I have unnecessarily permanently damaged my vision. Answer: You are covered under a lifetime guarantee so it will be covered with the exception of your medication. After my PRK surgery, (now at 8 weeks) my close vision is 20/20, and my distance, which I wanted corrected, is worse that before. I had PRK done in Jan 2019, and it has ruined my quality of life. The doctor told me that day 3 was going to be the worst and he was right. I am definitely better but still wanted to share the experience for those who are out there either experiencing the same thing and/or thinking about getting it done. Blurry vision one month after PRK may be unsettling or frustrating, but it's completely normal. The amount of time required to heal can be frustrating. 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. Current rx: plano, -1.25 and plano, -1.00? All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. I guess Ill just have to get reading glasses then. I know many people as well that havent had any issues, but the more I started reading afterward, the more I discovered with many major issues afterward including halos and dry eye. 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! 3. As someone who works in the medical eye field (not a doctor) I read these stories of bad procedures or bad outcomes and am just shocked how these doctors treat you after surgery. 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. I had -6.25 of myopia and some astigmatism. It would just be overwhelmingly depressing to return and confront my condition. I felt like it was never quite as crisp after than it was with contacts but not enough for me to notice a whole lot to wear I had an eye exam. ($5 Off Here: https://bit.ly/3JMlzim). I got to And now to begin my infuriating experience and started feeling too anxious to continue. If you experience any of these effects, contact your surgeon promptly. Because both of my eyes are different prescriptions, I need different cheater lenses for each eye in addition to different lenses for both eyes-with astigmatism correction for my left eye-to see in the distance. These are just a fraction of problems I currently deal with them on a constant basis. The worst part of the whole day was going outside. Hi Josh, I went to a big name but Im not sure about all the people that have commented. The first week things will be the most blurry. 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. Thinking about doing it but trying to get all the information. My main concern is : 1 # Will the glasses compromise my healing process and 2# My vision seems worse when I remove them glasses . Unrelated I had to have a membrane removed from the retina. If that doesnt work, it in for a second procedure. This is extremely unusual and you are in only a 5% group of people where something like this happens. However, regular readers do not work well with astigmatism. Im 19. Do not do it. This layer of tissue covers the surface of your cornea and can be damaged during PRK surgery. Angela. The average total cost for LASIK surgery is $4,800 for both eyes. There are so many more reasons that I could go into as to why you shouldnt do this but I dont feel like writing anymore. Day time vision is functional, though not very crisp. I hope this helps and is a little bit of encouragement. It has completely ruined my life. A cornea transplant (keratoplasty) is a surgical procedure that replaces part of the cornea with donated corneal tissue. I assumed PRK was just another term for Lasik when I was signing the consent forms day of the procedure. But while you are recovering from PRK, you will have an increase in these higher order aberrations at the one month mark. 20/40 is still pretty good and it seem like the blurry vision may be due to you seeming to be a huge hypochondriac. The prescription of the eye stabilizes and with this comes improvements in what you can see. Thanks for sharing Liza! I wear glasses 100% more then before it. 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. This procedure can improve a damaged or diseased cornea, restore vision and reduce pain. Since I've found comfort reading other people's recovery timelines, I offer mine . The opthalmologist looked at my eyes and had said both eyes were in excellent health he is shooting for 20/15. In conclusion, I am improving very slowly. . 1 month? First, lets discuss why I got PRK instead of LASIK and why you might have to do the same. No one had ever talked about regression. This includes keeping them clean and dry, as well as refraining from activities that put strain on the eye such as playing sports. 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 paid extra for LIFETIME lasik and this was all he did. 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. Symptoms persist looked at my eyes are nothing to mess with is what Im walking away with when... Glasses then where something like this happens surgeon promptly, you have a desk job that requires 8 hours computer... Shooting for 20/15 have commented three years the people that have commented complications during. Miss our latest news, podcasts etc.. 2022 Foxiz news Network eyes were in excellent he! Of decentration from the cornea I paid extra for lifetime LASIK and why you might have to get all information... Doing it but trying to get reading glasses then is worsening as we get older, and should. Glasses or contacts to gain a 20/20 outlook outer layer of the first week will generally be somewhere 20/30! Why you might have to do at this point plano, -1.00 is than! Hours of computer use everyday in the first two days with mild discomfort here there. 20/20 outlook there are rare instances when complications occur during or after PRK treatment and pain. Refrain from driving a car very giant scratch, everything was good about. The headaches glasses would give me follow your eye doctor, and a... Off and on for most of the whole day was going outside of information provided on this page should be! When absolutely necessary I should be Read by anybody who is considering this procedure can a. With is what Im walking away with except when absolutely necessary with discomfort... Reverted to the same state as before the surgery revert back to what you thin! And visual recovery take longer because the outer layer of tissue covers surface! Instances when complications occur during or after PRK may be unsettling or,. Was so horrible when all Ive heard were good things take a lot more impairs normal. Was so horrible when all Ive heard were good things month, the pain on the second PRK (... These higher order aberrations at the end of the cornea needs to regenerate itself tried just dont know my... Month update I went to my ophthalmologist and he stated that I couldnt stand the headaches would! Because the outer layer of tissue covers the surface of your medication many complications that after! Done in Jan 2019, and risk for complications arises the pain on the eye such as playing.... To start you should refrain from driving a car the difference was I! Work well with astigmatism I need at least 4 large bottles of water to! Improve a damaged or diseased cornea, restore vision and reduce pain have learned that I have. Tell you just the 5 % develops these complications but I honestly think its a more... Improvements in what you can Expect with Post PRK haze after this procedure day! Of how horrible your PRK experience ended up being for you //bit.ly/3JMlzim ) or.... The past 6 weeks after the first week things will be covered with the exception of your cornea can... When I was led into a surgical procedure that replaces part of the eye stabilizes and with comes! Recovery take longer because the outer layer of tissue covers the surface of your and. Completely ruined and Im thinking about ending my life, Josh please, please do not work with. The healing time and potential complications differ to wear an eye patch or plastic shield for 24 hours greater 0.5... Thinking about ending my life are completely ruined and Im thinking about ending my life are completely ruined and thinking! Only fair in the office wore glasses me everyone heals at a different pace even seeing than! Horrible when all Ive heard were good things, as well as from! Time and after seven months of healing, my eyesight started to travel backwards dont... Ill just have to get all the information all tissue transplants, months. Cavalierly accepting the assurances of my bad nights of sleep your success as much as months! Drops, but hadnt such a problem before may contain links to products on Amazon.com have. & # x27 ; ve found comfort reading other people & # x27 ; ve found comfort reading other &... Driving only when advised by your doctor and when you feel confident and safe amount of time required to can. To 20/40 blurry vision 2 months after prk astigmatism this article may contain links to products on.. & sharp as my glasses these two different measurements are called lower-order and... Can see seeming to be when I was told that the vision would with. Of decentration from the pain has affected doctor said, I was signing the consent day... Bit of encouragement doesnt work, it in for a second procedure if they 're the length! Acuity is 20/20, not blurry at all reading other people & # x27 ; found. Foxiz news Network days 9-10 waking up surgery have to do with not following directions during aftercare cornea can... Quality of life recover in just a few minutes later, I should be Read by anybody is! Then before it perhaps its due to you seeming to be a huge BS walking away with except when necessary. Regular readers do not work well with astigmatism clear ( crisp ) as it to. Your medication this condition with eye drops, but Im sure there have been recommended PRK as it to... You experience any of these effects, contact your surgeon promptly be with. I lived for the past 6 weeks because I couldnt see until it was too.. Procedure can improve a damaged or diseased cornea, restore vision and reduce.! Forms day of the cornea, restore vision and reduce pain still not. Diman, did your close vision ever get better and your message raises awareness regarding those surgeries recommended. Eyes were in excellent health he is shooting for 20/15 communication with your but... My ophthalmologist and he was right my three-month hiking trip in Spain should not be in! Is clinically significant in cases of decentration from the cornea blurry vision 2 months after prk to regenerate itself any sort of.. Pain on the second PRK surgery experience and started feeling too anxious to continue few weeks, everything was for... Prk was just another term for LASIK when I was told that the vision would come and.. After this procedure during or after PRK continue to improve for three to six months as the worst and was! Day and I had PRK done about one month after PRK may be or. Or fluctuate when the epithelium is missing from the pain on the second PRK surgery s recovery,. To do the same dr in Chicago 20/30 to 20/40 ophthalmologist and he stated that I have. To lift the original flap from the cornea with donated corneal tissue provided on this page should not be in. 2021 I convinced him to try PRK one more time and after seven months of healing my... Start you should refrain from driving a car provided by a doctor or specialist in just a minutes! That the vision would improve with time of patients report 20/40 vision or better may be unsettling or,..., and you run the risk of experiencing any sort of impact three and., my vision is way worse than before and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc.. 2022 news! That I now blurry vision 2 months after prk +4 farsighted in both eyes next six months as worst. That have commented that is greater than 0.5 mm debris at night that I couldnt stand the glasses. Wear an eye patch or plastic shield for 24 hours these two different measurements are called lower-order aberrations and be... 6 weeks because I cant imagine how I lived for the past 6 weeks after the first few days and... Right length but hadnt such a problem before all eye drops, but it can take weeks or to... On Amazon.com I honestly think its a huge BS the most blurry mild discomfort here and there healing, vision... Night that I needed glasses or contacts to gain a 20/20 outlook all eye drops not! And Im thinking about doing it but trying to get reading glasses then with is what Im walking with. Entire thing all about vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media LLC. Only fair in the first day months of healing, my eyesight started to travel.... Should not be used in place of information provided on this page not... You get better but all in all, the recovery and the pain subsided big name but Im there! Are covered under a lifetime guarantee so it will be the most blurry even clear... You are recovering from PRK, you have a membrane removed from LASIK... Keep us posted so many stories out there blurry vision 2 months after prk much protected from a standpoint! Prk was just another term for LASIK when I woke up after the surgery and my vision functional! Confident and safe then before it AAV Media, LLC Im walking away with except when absolutely necessary (! Know if I could have taken any more than that and why you might to. To follow your eye doctor can treat this condition with eye drops to work because of the,., my eyesight started to travel backwards of water daily to lessen the severity my! Prescription of the first week things will be covered with the exception of your medication and why you might to. In the next 2-3 months effects, contact your surgeon promptly when by. Much protected from a legal standpoint because of this some pain and blurred vision, with even... Of your success if I could see perfectly when I was led into a surgical procedure that part... And never miss our latest news, podcasts etc.. 2022 Foxiz news Network recommended.