This is wrong in so many ways as the cost does not change for them as the procedure costs the same to fire the laser no matter your script. My physician is a perfectionist, however, and told me that although I seemed satisfied with the results, she was not. Day time vision is functional, though not very crisp. 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. I know I have a while yet to heal, but I feel really desperate. Also because its something people cant see, so they dont understand. The Dr. said it is still healing and to be patient. 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. 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. I did not tell them about my history until after the consultation. On the surface of the eye is a tear film. 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. The success rate of PRK continues to improve as technology advances. I am sending positive vibes that your eyes continue to heal and get even better over time. Help please. I read these stories and I am just shocked as I have never heard of any of this happening at my clinic (PS. I screamed and begged my husband to kill me. After a few weeks, everything was good for about six years. Do you have any queries about PRK or would just like to learn more? I couldn't read any of it. Start your journey to clearer vision now and book your appointment with us one of our many locations from our extensive network. The lens is removed in cataract surgery and replaced with a clear, artificial intraocular lens (IOL) implant. This gives us our recovery for the first week. See the Disclaimer and Terms of Use for more information. This layer serves as the skin-like layer of our cornea. I guess its TRUE. Also he told me that as I get older I would need glasses. Have all the side effects you speak of still to this day. 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. Not only that, even in the dark it is uncomfortable to look straight forward or upward. How I wish I read it earlier so that I can give some thoughts over correcting my eyes. She confirmed my suspicion that I needed glasses or contacts to gain a 20/20 outlook. In fact, unless you are highly nearsighted, your risk is less than 0.1% (and even if you are highly nearsighted, that risk only goes up to 1%). An even higher percentage of patients report 20/40 vision or better. 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. But, even if I wake up tomorrow with perfect eyesight, I will regret having had prk. The bright sun was HORRIBLE. . Ive never heard of the disc method but it sounds promising as far as complications go which would be great. Really, there wasnt a problem. In between that 1 month mark and the 3 month mark, vision continues to steadily improve. My eyes remain dry. Then a cornea transplant because I had damaged my cornea. This will lead to an increased amount of symptoms such as glare and the ghosting of images as well as an increased difficulty with lower contrast details. I definitely agree we have to all share so people are aware of whats going on. B) i got 0.25 astigmatism will this also go away ? My vision is spectacular. 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 is possible for vision to remain blurry for one to two weeks. Im so glad you commented Candace. Almost constantly reddish and sensitive eyes still no reasonable answer for this one, and I was forbidden to use Stilla (or similar) eye drops. One major consequence of PRK over LASIK is the longer and much more variable healing/recovery time. I chose PRK because I am a heavy eye rubber and was terrified that Id rub the flap off. blurry vision, discomfort, and . Keep reading for my full PRK recovery journal, Update as of December 8, 2022: The FDA May Issue Warnings about Lasik. Unfortunately, hindsight is 20/20 (that expression is priceless in this scenario! Here are some of the most common things: (but this doesnt include everything and its important to visit your doctor if things continue to be blurry). My doctor saved my cornea, but the irregular astigmatism was awful. Was he on Washington? With the 2nd eye when I went in for my follow up the next morning I told them my eye was hurting. I want to sue him because I havent seen a day clearly since the surgery and its painfully affecting my life a lot. My night vision was never the greatest but some days it seems worse than others too. Medicaid: Eligibility and Vision Benefits. It is my opinion that no one should risk their precious eyes! Your PRK surgeon will provide you with comprehensive instructions on how to care for your eyes following surgery. some people make me laugh, i myself am still stuck between snatching myself SBK Lasik or ASA PRK. Eyesight was perfect afterwards as I was nearsighted prior. If anyone has any suggestions, would love to hear them. My prescription was -11 in both eyes with my glasses prescription and -10 with contacts. What is the fastest way to recover from PRK? Six years later I still feel like my eyes are healing. 2 weeks? Wow! By month 1, vision has sharpened up significantly but it isnt until month 3 that vision no longer becomes blurry. If you live in the United States and anywhere in the southwest, go to Dallas and see Dr. It was a very strange feeling and I felt some pressure and heat, but it did not hurt at all. And yes, the sand feeling did last for months. I was still sensitive to light, still couldnt work on the computer (hello, Im a travel blogger -being on a computer is my job! I was -5.75 in both eyes. From 07, three years after my surgery, my vision was noticeably worse and every year would get a little worse until 15 when I got glasses. My distance vision is not great either. During the first month I saw dramatic improvement but my healing seems to have peaked and I notice no changes since then. Got second round for free in 2018 but it really wasnt free due to days of work missed. I went to a surgeon who is considered among the very best in Washington D.C. metropolitan area. My price was around $3K. Without glasses, I have double vision in the left eye. 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. I have had weeks of pain, missed many days of work, will never be able to wear contacts again and will need glasses for the rest of my life. I have to wear goggle glasses to go outside, or ride in the car with the air/heat on. I went back to the place where I did the surgery and the doctor said it was unusual for my eyes are like this because I did a really small prescription now its way worse than before. I am so frustrated here and so tired of not able to see! Some of the links included in this post are affiliate links and will provide me with a commission at no additional cost to you. It is unbelievable how little we are told before these procedures. Ive even tried tapering off of my SSRI antidepressant because it seems like when I take it it aggravates everything, and that has its own psychological toll. TIP: When you go for your first appointment ask the doctor HOW they will complete the procedure and inquire about the brush method. The healing process with PRK. Keep reading below to find out about the great deal I found for regular prescription glasses and sunglasses! Many complications that arise after PRK surgery have to do with not following directions during aftercare. I luckily had a great outcome, but would like to see if there are similarities with the people who have had bad outcomes. 2. Clive Novis Ophthalmologist, South Africa. Blurry vision one month after PRK may be unsettling or frustrating, but it's completely normal. After a few eye tests, the doctor said everything looked great. I too am having problems look straight on or upwards. Im now 6 weeks post surgery#2. that it will heal, but that everyones recovery can be different. 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. And now to begin my infuriating experience. Hes approaching 60 & has been around forever. You may look into a dry eye treatment called thermal one touch or IPL for dry eye. My right eye is just about perfect. 6 months later I still have to put the ointment in my eyes before going to sleep because if I Dont Ill wake up in so much pain I want to scream or when I try to open my eyes and they dont and I have to manually open them and it feels like Im ripping layers off which make me want to cry but I cant because they are so dry. The new lens is surrounded by tissue that was cut and stretched, so the healing process could take up to a few months. Im so sorry to hear about your results. In December 2009, my eyesight started to travel backwards. They want me to come back in a year to see where my eyes are. Afterward, try to avoid getting any water directly in the eyes the first week after surgery. Prk makes cs go bad. It can be very frustrating dealing with blurry vision and mild pain from time to time. Well some of your concerns seem valid. They can provide more information about this condition and what can be done about it. Jennifer I am in your exact situation! 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. You might be considering the same option so I want to share my lengthy and not-so-great experience so you can make an informed decision. Hi Vivi. Have you gone back and talked to yours? (this is not an exaggeration) The brushing of the eye balls was excruciatingly painful and then the laser burning my eyes was just awful. PRK approaches things differently and directly removes that epithelium layer - avoiding the need to create a flap within the cornea. But my doctor said before surgery that I would get better but always be sensitive to bright light. My eyes had been about -7.5 prior to PRK. You should see some improvement in the next 2-3 months. Nice to know the truth, thanks. Is it the EXACT same recovery because it was extremely long and drawn out? You are blessed with glasses. But it can take a lot longer if there is haze or scarring of the cornea. I hate glasses and now need them for everything in my life for the rest of my life. 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. I never felt at any point during this time that I could see as good as when I had contacts, but I expected the first week to be like that. The average total cost for LASIK surgery is $4,800 for both eyes. Wow! All I kept thinking was thankfully I work from home right now but what about the people that would have to have gone back to a job especially someone on a computer all day. How long after PRK can I watch TV? It was a sharp stabbing and burning sensation in both eyes very hard to explain. Dont let a LASIK doctor talk you into an enhancement surgery (check out the website LASIK complications). This is completely normal and should improve with time. Then I met with the doctor to go over what was about to happen and he applied anesthetic drops to my eyes to numb them. I can drive in the Cape Town summer days with our extremely harsh lighting. Qualified patients must book their procedure by 2/28/2023. Are contact lenses a good choice for kids? Blurry vision after PRK laser eye surgery The primary difference between PRK laser surgery and alternatives like LASIK is in the access to the corneal tissue. I am sorry to hear that you were unhappy with your experience but I cant help but feel jealous of your success. These grafts are the most successful of all tissue transplants. Or another PRK surgery. Temporary glasses have not been helpful and I feel am just stuck in a bad situation. I lost count at this point how many 30 minute drives I took to the office which added to my frustration. My job choices are now extremely limited. Upon my first month check up since my vision was still very blurry my doctor prescribed a new par of RX glass to use while my eyes heal. Its so frustrating and disappointing. Although PRK surgery has a 95% success rate, it's important to know that there are risks associated with laser eye surgeries such as PRK. Everyones experience is different just as the pain level. For new accounts: Purchase APR is 26.99%. My husband had LASIK from the same Dr. months before and was very happy. Every time I call them they tell me that everyone is different in their healing and to just continue to use the drops. Is this normal? 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. My vision was blurry for about 2 months after. The pain was located on the right side of my left eye (closer to the nose). More often than not, patients experience minimal discomfort. Dont think there is need to expand here, simply google haze after prk, and youll get plenty of results on this one! What Everybody Ought to Know About Bionic Lenses, How to Use Castor Oil to Dissolve Cataracts, Restrictions After Cataract Surgery and Your Recovery, How To Stop Eye Twitching | Causes And Remedies. Do not wear eye makeup, lotions, cologne, or aftershave for one week. Hi. 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. Any queries about PRK or would just like to learn more I screamed and begged my husband LASIK. Prescription was -11 in both eyes Update as of December 8, 2022: the FDA may Warnings. This one recovery for the rest of my left eye book your appointment with us one of our locations..., vision has sharpened up significantly but it isnt until month 3 that vision no becomes... Vision one month after PRK surgery have to do with not following directions during aftercare physician is a film! 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