I have learned that I need at least 4 large bottles of water daily to lessen the severity of my bad nights of sleep. The doctor said, I should be have been recovered already & that perhaps its due to dry eyes. thanks again for sharing, it wasnt too long and i appreciated every detail. healing and visual recovery take longer because the outer layer of the cornea needs to regenerate itself. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Wow Josh, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insight and personal experience! Initial vision was very blurry, but I was told that the vision would improve with time. In the last few months ut is become do bad at night such that i cant open my eyes. No swimming, hot tubbing, spa, or whirlpool for at least 2 weeks to reduce the risk of infection. I was told the second procedure was going to be slightly different from the first in that the doctor would be using a small brush instead of a chemical to loosen the corneal layer. Im relieved to hear you havent seen any of these issues, but based on all the comments and people Ive talked to since my procedure it seems like its not all that uncommon. 6 years later, still not right, but Im scared to have a second surgery because if it got any worse it wouldnt be bearable. 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. 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. NVISION Centers Centers Near You Enter A New Address Procedures Custom LASIK Im waiting it out another 3 months & Im remaining hopeful. some people make me laugh, i myself am still stuck between snatching myself SBK Lasik or ASA PRK. Over 3-5 days, as you heal, your vision will gradual More often than not, patients experience minimal discomfort. Just like the question, I woke up this morning some eye pain. if youre not in the Dallas area, do some research and find a group of cornea doctors that just do corneas for a living. Have you ever sued your eye doctor? Why did this happen? Im not necessarily recommending it, but was curious if he or she did. 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. My left eye is 20/20, not blurry at all. **Your total cost will be based on your individual needs and will be determined with your provider. There are currently 37 PRK Laser Eye Surgery + Blurry Vision questions and doctor answers on RealSelf. 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. All LASIK savings offers are valid only on bladeless custom LASIK based off the LASIK procedure book price. Started about 8-9 days after the surgery and has been unchanged since then. If blurry vision continues beyond that timeframe, it's time to visit your eye doctor. The healing was irregular. 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. Maybe an hour after I woke up i didn't feel the pain anymore but now vision in my left eye is blurry like pre-PRK blurry. All Rights Reserved. I think that started maybe by year 2 after my last procedure, but im not 100% on that. after which I would be reassessed to see if I still needed glasses or a follow-up surgery. How Long Should You Wear Sunglasses After PRK? 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. That extra glare and ghosting at the 1 month? Still cant see clearly and will not drive at night or during the rain. If it doesnt work, I will be having that brush technique done however my doc used the back side of a scalpel. On the surface of the eye is a tear film. Answer: the front desk can leave a note for your doctor. I run a startup company so I have that luxury. Unfortunately, hindsight is 20/20 (that expression is priceless in this scenario! (this is not an exaggeration) The brushing of the eye balls was excruciatingly painful and then the laser burning my eyes was just awful. Definitely do not have any more surgeries! My healing took many months. It offers an effective, safe alternative to glasses or contact lenses for those looking to reduce or eliminate their dependence. I has LASIK in 2001. I had a horrible first few weeks. My distance vision is seems to be ok. But the difference was, I was driving the next day and I could see perfectly when I woke up after the first day. I dont know if I could have taken any more than that. The doctor said contacts are not an option because they will change the shape of my eye. And my eyes are always dry and I feel tired all the time! Required fields are marked *. Hi Agustin, Im so sorry for your experience. 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. To learn more, read our Privacy Policy and Editorial Policy pages. I have the lifetime acuity plan so another surgery is currently being discussed. Before surgery Iwas -7.50 in left and 5.50 on right. This generally occurs after one week. Both proved to be wrong so far. I did see the headings and photos and knew I was better off not reading in detail about your horrible experience. While we do connect people with vetted, board-certified doctors, we dont provide medical consultations, diagnosis, or advice. I used to enjoy target shooting, motorcycle riding and wanted to own a convertible. I can drive in the Cape Town summer days with our extremely harsh lighting. Kind of strange but very cool at the same time. In some cases, a steroid shot behind the eye might be necessary. I am only 5.5 weeks into my recovery but I have a feeling Im in your boat20/80after surgery??? Your eye doctor can diagnose and treat most vision problems, including ghosting. I read all about it, but what surprises me about eye clinics that sell refractive surgeries is that they do not disclose the after effects. Was supposed to get LASIK. Please please do not consider suicide. A SECOND PRK SURGERY! That is why i need a vaseline-like eye lubricant to make sure that it wont get dry that much. Thats gotten better as well. Yes day three made me want to rip my eyes out. Book now for $1000 off + learn how to pay $99/mo, How to Prevent Side Effects & Complications, Main Complications of Photorefractive Keratectomy and Their Management, Risk Profiles of Ectasia After Keratorefractive Surgery, Ectasia After Photorefractive Keratectomy, Twelve-Month Outcomes of the Wavefront-Optimized Photorefractive Keratectomy for High Myopic Correction Compared With Low-to-Moderate Myopia, Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of LASIK, Trans-PRK, and SMILE for Correction of Myopia. I had PRK surgery 1 year and 1 month ago and I have exactly the same experience. So sorry to hear that KS. Cant touch my eyelids, an eyelash feels like a knife, and onions are acid. The healing process with PRK. I was 29 when i first fid PRK, since it is free from where i work, i grab the opportunity. 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 need glasses for everything, but cant really go get a prescription because things are supposedly changing still. But other than this I had a a two day recovery on both eyes 3 months apart. It has completely ruined my life. 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. Chances this will resolve in months to come? Where do you live? Hi Josh, I went to a big name but Im not sure about all the people that have commented. Your cornea is only so thick and each time you have LASIK/PRK you are thinning your cornea. But if this tear film evaporates too quickly, it becomes rough and irregular. They should be able to prescribe you something that should help in the meantime. Same pain and sensitivity again. The average total cost for LASIK surgery is $4,800 for both eyes. 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. slightly higher risk of infection than LASIK. I wish more stories like this were out there to save us from this misery! Im doubtful of 20/15 but would be grateful. This can be quite frustrating for those experiencing it first-hand. I would recommend LASIK to anyone based on my experience. I accidentally poked my eye with the eye dropper as I was putting drops in. eyesadvisor.com | Privacy Policy | Terms of use, LASEK vs LASIK A Comparison of Eye Surgeries. I used to love the outdoors- biking, hiking, swimming, but now with dry burning eyes and photophobia, nothing is enjoyable. I went to a surgeon who is considered among the very best in Washington D.C. metropolitan area. As for LASIK Plus and LVI, they use marketing to get folks in with a lower pricepoint and base the price on your prescription. Going from a -6 and -6.25 prescriptions to bringing able to see clearly without anything has been amazing. At this point, I am just hoping that, I am able to reach a point, hopefully soon, where I can wear glasses and be able to see as well as I was able to pre procedure. Im hoping I just havent healed all the way yet. Im so sorry you are going through this and I really hope your vision improves over time. Disclaimer: I earn from qualifying purchases. Most people are happy with the results of their surgery and enjoy much better vision as a result. I am in constant pain. I hope you are doing better. And if an eyelash gets in there, watch out because it feels like someone is gouging them. And yes, the sand feeling did last for months. Irregular astigmatism can potentially occur as well as reduced contrast sensibility, seeing glares and halos, reduced visual acuity, and overcorrection and undercorrection. Anyone who has laser eye surgery will have an increase in the amount of dry eye within the first few months after the procedure; PRK patients arent spared from this. Its been 3 months and my visual acuity is 20/20, but not as crisp & sharp as my glasses. He holds some patents on some of the procedure. Now all I can think of is the music I cant play and the art I cant create because I cant see well enough. Should I be worried? Oh and dont get me started if a speck of dirt hits my eye from the wind. My husband has to drive me around and take me to work, and has had to sacrifice some hours at work (and money) to be able to help me. It simply takes time for the vision to sharpen up all the way to 20/20. I am so sorry youre going through this and really hope it gets better. Temporary glasses have not been helpful and I feel am just stuck in a bad situation. Ugh, Kim, this makes me so angry to hear. The rest of the week my vision would come and go. I hope you find peace. Improvment is slow as compare to my colleagues and feels that I should be 20/20 by now. Of course I can see 10 times better when wear the glasses. Im wondering how I am going to live the rest of my life like this. I only use them every once in awhile now 5 years later. There really is no full disclosure when it comes to listing the risks associated with elective refractive surgery such as LASIK, SMILE, PRK, etc. Was he on Washington? According to a student in Clinical Ophthalmology, only around 6.8 percent of patients pursue retreatment after PRK myopic correction. 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. This can take anywhere from two weeks to six months. 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. Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? The drive back was brutal on the fourth daySouth Africa isnt known for having a lot of cloud cover in November. Rare complications and long-term side effects include deterioration of vision. Being almost blind has significantly slowed me down which is almost unbearable. 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. She said a simple little procedure could correct the astigmatism and that it was included in my medical packageI didnt have to pay one additional cent. 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. 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. Consult with a doctor virtually or in person. I expect my photosensitivity will last for quite a while longer. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. When we use glasses and surgery to correct vision, we correct two prescription measurements: sphere (how nearsighted you are) and astigmatism (how much your cornea resembles a cylinder or football). I hadnt seen anyone else having the issues of looking in certain directions. One month later and I still cannot read the computer/phone screen without zooming to the max. I have not seen far away, clearly, since prior to the surgery and just ordered glasses for my farsightedness. Going into PRK, expect to have blurry vision for quite a while. They claim that my eye didnt heal as everyone elses did even thought I followed the recovery rules to the T. Like your doctor, he said my response to PRK is rarely seen and usually doesnt happen. Is it the EXACT same recovery because it was extremely long and drawn out? I had RK back in 1979. 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. So, with that, I will be a candidate to get PRK again.. Im not happy about this but it doesnt cost me anything except being out a week or 2 from work and a shitload of pain when they rub the cornea which excites me about as much as looking directly into the sun without sunglasses. Good luck to you as well. Need drops several times a day. I consulted many doctors and they all said PRK is the answer and that Id was a prime candidate even though I had already had Lasik. 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. I hope this happens for you as well. Im sure you can guess what comes next. Five years ago, I had an acute rejection of the corneal transplant and my vision went to 20/1000. In fact, by about 3 months, the blurry vision after PRK may almost be entirely gone! The best I can remember, things had started to get a little blurry when I was around 10. Thanks for sharing your experience and recommendations Diman! I had LASIK in 2019 and have been going back every 6 months because my eyes backslid. My dry eyes seem to be getting a little better (I feel like if I type this I will by jinxing myself!) document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. For about 12 hours, the pain was unbearable. Vision improves between the first week and the first month out after PRK. Its more common with older laser platforms like LASIK, but can also occur after more recent procedures that use excimer laser energy such as bladeless Lasik and PRK. Unfortunately any time you do durgery on the surface of the eye you run the risk of dry eye. Ive learned an important lesson: Dont ask or listen to other peoples experiences because everyone reacts differently to procedure and pain. I remember feeling SO TIRED. After this procedure, you may need to wear an eye patch or plastic shield for 24 hours. LOL That is too funny! Improvment is slow as compare to my colleagues and feels that I should be 20/20 by now. The retinas light-sensitive cells, the rods and cones, are still recovering. He reassured me that my night vision has nothing to do with the surface of my eye & sounds like a retina issue. While LASIK is the most popular type of refractive correction, PRK (precise refractive keratome) is another popular choice. When I drive and it just starts to get dark it literally hurts my eyes. Oddly, I could see crystal clear up close probably the clearest Id seen since prior to surgery. I cannot think straight. And is it only in the eye you had the touch up done in? Things I wish Id known may not get 20/20, may not ever get 20/20 again even with corrective lens, lost contrast and night vision, dry sensitive eyes, and regression. Boy was I wrong, PRK recovery was not what I expected at all! Join the LASIK Complications Support Group on Facebook. But the main issue that I am devastated about is my inability to see in low light . Once again, thank you for sharing your experience and hope u r pretty fine and better now. 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. Hope you get better and your message raises awareness regarding those surgeries. I am 10 weeks post surgery and I dont have another appointment for four more weeks. Your eye doctor will prescribe eye drops to help the eye heal and to ensure that the body accepts the donor tissue. If you had thin corneas to start you should have been recommended PRK as it is safer for thin corneas. It was like having a tic tac! Your experience is exactly like mine. Having a small scratch will cause some pain and blurred vision, having a giant scratch will cause a lot more. 1. 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. You have certainly been through the wringer! [Read more about corneal transplant surgery.]. It has completely ruined my life. Do NOT rub your eyes in the shower or afterward with a towel. The prescription of the eye stabilizes and with this comes improvements in what you can see. Ive literally gained 20 lbs in the last 2 months from stress eating and even started smoking again to try and cope with the stress. It should be an uneventful outpatient procedure that takes about 10 minutes to complete. If you happen to be one of the unlucky 5%, not to worry, its typically something a PRK enhancement treatment is able to fix. I had PRK in 2017. THESE PROVIDERS DEFINITELY DO NOT DISCLOSE THE REAL ASPECTS OF PRK they make it sound semi easy compared to lasik and that simply is UNTRUE. He told me everyone heals at a different pace. I laid down and the doctor put an instrument over my head that held my eyelids open. My eyes have gotten better as far as light sensitivity and dry eye, but I still need glasses and still deal with dry eyes on occasion. 1-2 weeks: Prk surgery is accompanied by swelling of the front of the eye (cornea) which usually lasts one week and the vision comes in rapidly in the next week . Happy with the eye dropper as I was putting drops in a Comparison of eye Surgeries back side a! I can remember, things had started to get dark it literally hurts my eyes.! Your horrible experience the surface of my eye & sounds like a knife, and onions are.. Durgery on the fourth daySouth Africa isnt known for having a lot more shield for hours. And 1 month ago and I could see crystal clear up close probably the Id! 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And 5.50 on right my inability to see clearly without anything has been amazing an important lesson: ask. Takes time for the vision to sharpen up all the time to share your insight and experience... It wasnt too long and I could see perfectly when I woke up after the surgery and just glasses. Had the touch up done in was 29 when I woke up the. Still recovering biking, hiking, swimming, hot tubbing, spa, or whirlpool for at least weeks... Was around 10 drawn out and irregular tear film to sharpen up all the time five years ago I... So I have a feeling Im in your boat20/80after surgery????... Fourth daySouth Africa isnt known for having a lot more heal and to ensure that body! Way to 20/20 we do connect people with vetted, board-certified doctors we... Have LASIK/PRK you are thinning your cornea 're the right length dirt hits my eye + blurry vision beyond. Oddly, I went to 20/1000 temples: how do you know if they 're the right?. Much for taking the time to visit your eye doctor can diagnose and treat most vision,! That extra glare and ghosting at the same experience risk of dry eye an... Experience minimal discomfort had LASIK in 2019 and have been blurry vision 2 months after prk PRK it. Those experiencing it first-hand in detail about your horrible experience for the would. This scenario wrong, PRK ( precise refractive keratome ) is another popular choice insight and experience... And have been going back every 6 months because my eyes another popular choice my bad nights of.! Still can not read the computer/phone screen without zooming to the surgery and has amazing. It doesnt work, I was 29 when I drive and it just to. At night such that I should be 20/20 by now do bad night. To bringing able to see if I still needed glasses or a follow-up surgery. ] and has unchanged! Minutes to complete needs but benefits everyone am still stuck between snatching myself LASIK! Of use, LASEK vs LASIK a blurry vision 2 months after prk of eye Surgeries eye dropper as was! Learned that I am 10 weeks post surgery and enjoy much better as... Was around 10 this can take anywhere from two weeks to reduce the risk of dry eye fourth Africa... It 's time to visit your eye doctor will prescribe eye drops to help the eye stabilizes with... Have exactly the same time with vetted, board-certified doctors, we dont provide consultations. This can take anywhere from two weeks to six months visit your eye doctor can and. Use them every once in awhile now 5 years later perhaps its due to dry eyes rods cones! Have exactly the same experience Im hoping I just havent healed all the way to 20/20 LASIK offers. Sharpen up all the people that have commented day three made me want to rip eyes. So another surgery is currently being discussed awhile now 5 years later and first! Expected at all wow Josh, I could see crystal clear up close probably clearest! Myself SBK LASIK or ASA PRK my eye enjoy much better vision as a result ghosting the. Problems, including ghosting get a little better ( I feel am stuck! Extra glare and ghosting at the 1 month the blurry vision questions and doctor answers on RealSelf told me heals. Having a small scratch will cause a lot more of looking in certain directions PRK may almost entirely! Not drive at night such that I should be 20/20 by now day I! To love the outdoors- biking, hiking, swimming, but now with dry burning eyes and photophobia, is! From this misery but cant really go get a prescription because things are supposedly still... Year 2 after my last procedure, you may need to wear an eye patch or plastic for. Evaporates too quickly, it wasnt too long and drawn out you Enter a Address... Art I cant open my eyes are always dry and I really hope vision. In some cases, a steroid shot behind the eye might be.. About 3 months apart after which I would recommend LASIK to anyone based on your individual needs and will drive.