My PRK Adventure
In late 2007 I underwent PRK laser vision correction surgery. This is sorta like LASIK, but instead of cutting a flap in the outer corneal layer, they chemically remove that layer, then zap you with the laser. It involves a longer recovery time, usually several weeks to several months as that layer grows back and stabilizes. I’ve even read some reports of people taking six months before their vision had settled, but such long recoveries seem to be pretty rare.
I was a candidate for LASIK but opted for PRK because I do a lot of fighting (kickboxing and grappling, sorta MMAish). While involving a longer, more frustrating recovery time, the PRK surgery leaves your eyes in a more stable state than LASIK. Had I gone with LASIK, there would always have been a chance that a stray punch brushing against my eye could loosen or separate that corneal flap, and that’s something I really didn’t want to experience.
I was quite timid about even undergoing the surgery, until I found several blogs of people’s experience online. After reading firsthand accounts, I was more at ease and knew what to expect at a level not conveyed by the surgeon. I decided that I’d keep such a log of my experience with PRK. So without further ado…
- Pre-PRK – after scheduling the appointment
- Day 1
- Day 3
- Day 3 – Nighttime
- Day 4
- Day 5
- Day 7 -1 Week since the surgery
- Day 10
- 2 Weeks Later
- 4 Weeks Later
- 5 Weeks Later
- 8 Weeks Later
- 3 Months Later
Thanks for you info..I had my prk on dec 20th and left is still blurry and I was kind of downa nd depressed and checking internet about PRK and came across ur site and made me feel little better..i guess it will take time to recover..will wait for it…THANKS AGIAN.
Good info.
I got mine 2 weeks ago, and was discouraged that I’m still at 20/40 to 20/50. Apparently the doctor is correct when he tells me to just keep being patient.
Hi, I am six days in and having a really difficult time seeing since I am used to being able to read. Can I cheat and just ask you when you felt like you were “back to normal” but yet improved?
I am at my 2 week mark of haveing the PRK and I am now starting to say I wish I had not done it as I can hardly do anything, no driving, no computer, tv or all of that. I am so depressed about it. I know you must be patient, but the doc said it was going to be faster than the reality. I will continue reading your progress and see what all you went through, if I can read at all.
Hi- and thanks for this. I have actually printed out your 5 week post op. blog and read it from time to time to gain some reassurance. Turning the the internet for reassurance can be so dangerous. You read terrible things and then worry more.
How is it that you were so positive in your journey? You just seemed to know things would improve, whereas with me at 3.5 week post-PRK, I have such uncertainty that I will heal and become fully happy with my vision again. My eyes are still blurry (from close up to within first 30 feet- all day), and my left eye seems so much worse than the other. I wonder, will the left ever catch up? Will I ever see fine detail clearly again? I am so doom and gloom, but what I notice about your posts is your faith in the process.
Poor vision is hard to ignore, because how do you get lost in something else? We use our eyes for everything- t.v., work, movies, playing with children… The only escape is sleep- so it is hard to enjoy life. I can’t sleep for 3 months! I don’t really want to lose one day of my life to this negative thinking, but have lost many. And I still have so far to go (assuming I get there at all).
I do thank you very much and am happy for your success.
Thanks for your account… I’ve had my surgery a week ago, and, although it is a GREAT improvement because I had -13 DO, so I really couln’t see ANYTHING without glasses, now I can fairly move around, but I still see blurry and much worse than with my lenses, but I’ll be patient and wait for the next months….
I had the surgery done yesterday early in the morning. the procedure itself was a bit more uncomfortable than I expected. The first 3 hours in post op were very very uncomfortable. After the pain killers kicked in I was able to sleep for about 6 hours.
i woke up being able to see pretty well with very little discomfort. This morning I put in my drops and went in for the exam. 20/20 and 20/45. I’m ecstatic to say the least. I was 20/600 yesterday. I have a minimal amount of ghosting, blurring, of double images. It gets better after the drops.
I almost decided to not get the procedure done because I read about so many negative experiences. I spoke more in depth with my doctor and was assured that I had nothing to worry about. my main concern was missing more work that i could afford.
It’s only about 32 hours since the surgery and I can honestly report that I’m completely amazed. I think that people who have negative experiences with PRK tend to post their story more often than people who have positive experiences.
It’s only been a day so I’ll post again soon for an update. Probably when the lenses come off on Monday.
I just wanted to post something that isn’t so negative. Obviously I have a long way to go by so far this has really been a walk in the park.
At 8 months out, I have not been so lucky. My vision is much worse than it was with glasses, I have terrible eye floaters, and can’t see well up close any more. It has been the worst time of my life and I am afraid that I’ll never see well again. My problems are not even fully correctable with glasses. Especially the floaters.
I hope everyone has a good outcome, but fear I am the ugly exception.