When Can I See Again After Prk
Equally I sit to write this, information technology is well-nigh three years to the day of my first PRK process at a vision heart in Illinois. And I'd like to share my personal journey through two separate center surgeries, the PRK recovery on both procedures, and my PRK complications.
You may be asking yourself why a travel blogger is writing a wellness-related experience on her travel website. Well, the primary reason I decided to go my eyes corrected was that I thought it would be helpful when traveling long-term.
I thought I would be eliminating yearly eye exams, the annoyance of picking out glasses and having to comport contact solutions, contacts, glasses, and everything else that goes with having bad eyesight.
Boy was I wrong, PRK recovery was non what I expected at all!
You might be considering the same option so I desire to share my lengthy and not-so-great experience so you tin can make an informed decision.
I waited three long years to share my experience so my eyes could stabilize and I could requite you the total outlook. Also for my anger to subside, considering let me tell you, there was a lot of acrimony, disappointment, and utter dismay.
Continue reading for my full PRK recovery journal…
What is the Difference between PRK and LASIK?
First, allow's hash out why I got PRK instead of LASIK and why you might accept to do the same.
Both PRK, which stands for Photorefractive Keratectomy, and LASIK are laser vision correction procedures performed to correct eyesight.
The main difference betwixt LASIK versus PRK is the manner the procedure is completed.
LASIK is performed past slicing the cornea and creating a flap that gets put back on the eye once the light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation is used. When PRK is performed, a layer of the patient'southward cornea (the corneal cells) is completely removed which has to and then grow back.
Supposedly, the procedure time, result, and cost are the same with both procedures. And merely the healing fourth dimension and potential complications differ.
LASIK and PRK Recovery & Risk
The overall healing process is longer and more than painful for PRK simply with less risk of complications from the surgery itself because there is no flap.
Other possible risks for both surgeries include dry eye, infection, haze effect on vision, halos, night glares, redness, and long-term light sensitivity afterward PRK.
LASIK has little reanimation with simply a twenty-four hour period or so for recovery whereas PRK is much longer.
Originally, I was told 3 days to a week but as you read further you'll learn information technology was MUCH LONGER plus I needed a second PRK surgery but a twelvemonth after the kickoff.
There are many reasons PRK may exist recommended. Examples include thin corneas, dry out center issues, and irregular corneas. Besides, some career fields similar military personnel or first responders may take certain requirements only allowing PRK versus LASIK because of the possible flap complications.
My ophthalmologist recommended PRK because of the shape of my cornea. And after some research and figuring out the right date for me earlier our mega iii calendar month trip to Spain and Portugal, I was gear up.
PRK Toll
The cost for both procedures is relatively the same and can range anywhere from $1,500 – $three,000 per middle depending on your prescription and whether or not you have astigmatism or not.
I paid $three,363.12 including a discount of $1,000 for my type of insurance to right my nearsightedness (-v.50 in both optics).
If y'all see any other promotions lower than that go on with caution and/or know yous will probably receive the whole allurement and switch scam once you go in that location.
PRK Success Rate
Here are a few facts I wish I would have read before I began my PRK journey.
How long does information technology take to get 20/20 vision afterwards PRK? Co-ordinate to WebMD, merely 70% of PRK patients attain 20/20 vision.
92% of PRK patients get 20/xl vision or better. And it works meliorate for depression to moderate farsightedness than high.
How to speed up PRK recovery
What is the fastest style to recover from PRK?
Offset, make certain to follow all directions including going correct dwelling house and sleeping for a few hours.
Also, apply all middle drops and prescriptions exactly as recommended. Avoid rubbing your eyes and use the eye protection given to yous by your doctor even longer than the recommended timeframe.
Post-Procedure Activities and Restrictions, the Exercise and Don'ts after PRK
- Proceed both eyes airtight as much as possible the first day. Slumber and then rest every bit much as possible for the remainder of the day following your surgery. This is VITAL to your recovery.
- How long after PRK can I picket Television receiver? Keep screen time to a minimum for the first few days including television receiver, phones and the computer.
- PRK Recovery Tips: Download a few audiobooks or podcasts to go along you lot entertained. Check out this great Audiobook deal if you don't already have an account.
- Exercise not shower or take a bath for at least 24 hours. Afterward, endeavor to avoid getting any water directly in the eyes the first week after surgery. Practice NOT rub your eyes in the shower or subsequently with a towel.
- PRK Recovery Tips: Shower the morning of surgery and launder your hair.
- No pond, hot tubbing, spa, or whirlpool for at least ii weeks to reduce the hazard of infection.
- Resume driving just when advised by your doctor and when yous feel confident and condom. This generally occurs after one calendar week. However, your vision may fluctuate for the kickoff several weeks then it is important to utilise adept judgment.
- Practise non habiliment center makeup, lotions, cologne, or aftershave for 1 week.
- Lite sensitivity is no joke. You will need to wear sunglasses all the fourth dimension while outdoors even on cloudy days for iii weeks to a month.
- PRK Recovery Tips: Put center drops in the fridge for extra soothing on your itchy optics.
- Information technology was recommended that exercise should non exist picked up again for at to the lowest degree a week, but I didn't feel comfortable with that for at least 3 weeks.
- If you are like me and notwithstanding need to wear glasses, bank check out these lightweight estimator glasses that finer reduce blue light by up to ninety%, immediately reducing eyestrain and its associated effects including headaches, dry eyes, tired eyes, and blurred vision.
Disclaimer: I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links included in this postal service are affiliate links and volition provide me with a commission at no additional cost to y'all.
My PRK Recovery Timeline 2017 – First Surgery
And now to begin my infuriating experience.
What to Look the Day of Surgery
I was told not to wear my contacts for at least ii weeks before the procedure. My original appointment was about three weeks prior so I never put them back in afterward.
On the twenty-four hours of my surgery, I arrived with my contacts out, no makeup or lotion in comfy clothes, with a driver (my hubby), and with the prescriptions, nosotros picked upward beforehand.
Many people I spoke to before the procedure were extremely uncomfortable with the thought of someone touching and messing with my eyes.
For some reason, information technology really didn't bother me until the morning of. I signed a few liability pages waiving my rights to sue for annihilation and everything. After signing abroad, I went for another round of tests. And and so had to wait about an hour to exist taken back which is when I started feeling a little nervous.
While in the waiting room, the nurse gave me a valium (which absolutely helped with the anxiety) and an anti-inflammatory pill. And so I met with the md to become over what was well-nigh to happen and he applied anesthetic drops to my optics to numb them.
A few minutes subsequently, I was led into a surgical room. I laid down and the doctor put an instrument over my caput that held my eyelids open.
Information technology was a very strange feeling and I felt some pressure level and heat, only information technology did not hurt at all. He put an alcohol solution in my eye to loosen the epithelium prior to removal. He so told me to focus on a target light while he removed the surface layer of the cornea (the corneal epithelium) and so used a light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation to reshape the cornea.
FYI – At the centre eye I went to, (non certain if all places have this) the surgical surface area is lined with windows and your driver tin can picket the whole process live too on a television in the waiting room. So my husband was able to watch the entire matter. Kind of strange but very cool at the same time. Talk about something to keep you lot decorated while you wait!
The whole procedure probably took 12 – 15 minutes at the most. I was given some blue blocker-blazon glasses, an boosted prescription for Ambien, and instructions for the next few days.
PRK Recovery Timeline: Day 0
Is PRK recovery painful?
Everything was a little blurry only non likewise bad when I was leaving the office. The worst part of the whole day was going outside. The bright sun was HORRIBLE. I could barely proceed my eyes open up walking to the machine and keeping them close the entire ride.
Once I arrived dwelling, I climbed in bed, took my sleeping pill as directed, and slept for almost half-dozen hours directly. When I woke up, my eyes felt like they had sand in them (which I was told was because of the bandage contacts) so it was a petty uncomfortable merely not in pain necessarily. I started my rounds of eye drops immediately.
I made a little nautical chart for all the meds because information technology was difficult to keep runway of when and how many to administrate.
In that location was a steroid driblet, numbing driblet, antibiotic drop, and artificial tears. The number of drops was tiered over the form of 7 days with the numbing ane only to be used a few times when in pain. THANK GOD FOR THAT ONE!
PRK Recovery Timeline: Day 1 & ii
I went in for my follow-up appointment (make a notation – you demand a driver for that as well) the next afternoon. The appointment was quick. I did not see my doctor but another one that was in the part that solar day. He said everything looked okay and to just balance and keep upwardly with the drops equally directed.
I remember feeling SO TIRED. Like I could barely proceed my eyes open. Patently having your eyes corrected, takes a lot out of yous! I slept off and on for most of the first ii days with balmy discomfort hither and there. Just when it would get bad it would be time for more than drops which made them feel amend.
My eyes teared constantly which gave me a runny nose and I was notwithstanding actually sensitive to light. So with the shades drawn, I listened to an audiobook in between napping.
PRK Recovery Timeline: Day 3
The dr. told me that day 3 was going to be the worst and he was right. At this signal, I thought the PRK recovery wasn't also difficult. It wasn't fun, but it wasn't horrible either. Well, that all inverse on day 3!
It'southward when the cells brainstorm to abound dorsum over the eye that yous showtime feeling what I can only depict every bit the sandy sensation turning to toe-curling-pillow-squeezing pain.
For virtually 12 hours, the pain was unbearable. I used the numbing drops accordingly and the prescription pain meds but naught helped. Fortunately, once those twelve hours were over, the pain subsided. I don't know if I could accept taken any more than than that.
Read here what others are maxim on the PRK Recovery Reddit thread.
PRK Recovery Timeline: Days 4 – vii
The rest of the calendar week my vision would come and go. 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 nighttime's sleep but then would taper off by getting more blurry in the evening.
I never felt at any point during this time that I could see as practiced every bit when I had contacts, just I expected the first week to be like that.
During the get-go calendar week after the procedure, I could non sit at my computer or scout tv set for very long at all. I would get headaches and an overall tired feeling in my eyes. It's hard to explicate only it took endeavor to exist able to await at the screen.
The sixth-morning postal service-op, I could actually see the alarm clock when I woke up without glasses! I was and then excited and thought this was a great sign. That twenty-four hours I also went for another follow-upwardly appointment where they removed the contact bandages.
Again, a little discomfort but no hurting. Later on a few eye tests, the doc said everything looked corking. I idea I was on the road to recovery. Just in fourth dimension for my three-month hiking trip in Espana.
PRK Recovery Timeline: Days 8 – 15
During the second week, I could go on the figurer a little longer (about an hr to an hour and a one-half), but my optics were still extremely sensitive to light and I still felt worn out after screen fourth dimension. My head would start to hurt and I felt like I had to force my eyes open up, that'due south when I knew it was quitting time.
My vision would come and go so I was not confident enough to drive yet. All I kept thinking was thankfully I work from home right now just what about the people that would take to have gone dorsum to a task especially someone on a computer all solar day.
PRK Recovery Timeline: Days sixteen – thirty
I began to worry and become frustrated when my vision did not offset to stabilize in the 3rd week. Because I had blurry vision 2 weeks after PRK, I still needed someone to drive me to my 3rd appointment which I had on Twenty-four hours 27 where the doctor bodacious me everything was right on track.
I vented to the doctor regarding my aggravation that I was never told the healing process could have this long. I was still sensitive to light, still couldn't work on the calculator (hello, I'yard a travel blogger -beingness on a computer is my task!), and couldn't bulldoze. He told me anybody heals at a different pace.
So I waited…
PRK Recovery Timeline: 1 & 2 Months Post-Op
During calendar month ane and two afterwards the surgery, my vision seemed to stabilize equally in information technology didn't fluctuate throughout the day, but I still didn't experience like I could run across well. I drove only during the twenty-four hours, never at night. I did not feel comfortable with it but what was I supposed to practice… I didn't have a chauffeur at my brook and call.
I was still sensitive to light merely not every bit severe and I was able to become on the computer for about 4 – 5 hours a day.
PRK Recovery Timeline: three Months Post-Op
All my symptoms remained the same equally month one and two. My vision was manner better than before the procedure just still blurry. I did non feel comfy driving and my optics themselves felt extremely sensitive to the touch. I wore sunglasses the minute I got outside since vivid lights nonetheless bothered me and any wind blowing in my eyes felt terrible.
My 3 month follow up appointment was a lot of the same responses from the medico. I told him near my blurred vision and he assured me again, that it was function of the healing procedure.
He wanted to run across me in some other calendar month, but I reminded him I was leaving on a 3 month trip to Espana and Portugal. He told me non to worry and by the time I got back, I'd be seeing corking.
PRK Recovery Timeline: 6 Months Post-Op
So I went ahead and hiked 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago feeling similar everything was a niggling off. My vision was Way better than before the procedure but I still felt similar I couldn't see cracking particularly in depression light or at night.
My sensitivity to light got better every day but my eyes would still tear up on super sunny days. I would ask myself am I going to take long-term light sensitivity later on PRK for the remainder of my life?
And on the complete contrary side, my eyes would feel dry afterwards in the day so I would use centre drops at to the lowest degree 4 or five times a twenty-four hours.
At my eye appointment, I asked why I had blurry vision six months after PRK. The physician (again, not the big honcho who performed my procedure because apparently he only does surgeries and never follow-upwards) revealed my eyes should basically exist done healing. They had not changed since month 1 which left me with astigmatisms in both eyes that I did not have earlier the surgery and recommended a PRK touch up.
A SECOND PRK SURGERY! ARE You lot KIDDING ME?
He handed me a prescription and said to go glasses in the interim because he would not desire to exercise the second process for another six months or so. I asked all the important questions – while trying not to burst into tears with the idea of doing this all once again – like:
- Is it the Verbal same recovery considering information technology was extremely long and drawn out? Answer: Yes. Everyone heals at a different charge per unit simply you should expect a similar recovery.
- Why did this happen? Answer: No detail reason. This is extremely unusual and y'all are in only a 5% grouping of people where something like this happens.
- What are the chances the 2nd process will piece of work? Respond: I would say in that location is 99% run a risk everything will plow out perfect. I wouldn't worry at all.
- Who is paying for this? Answer: You are covered nether a lifetime guarantee so it will exist covered with the exception of your medication.
- Are yous going to pay for my glasses? Who do I talk to, to get reimbursed for the prescription because there is NO WAY I'm paying for all this again! Answer: the front end desk can leave a note for your dr..
My head was spinning with the idea of going through all of this again. When would I accept the fourth dimension and how do I know this volition piece of work if information technology didn't work the commencement time. Not to mention, it is my eyes which I was nervous about in the first identify.
My PRK Recovery Timeline 2018 – 2nd PRK Surgery
A yr afterward my offset procedure, I went back into my center middle for more tests to ostend I was a candidate for PRK enhancement. I lost count at this betoken how many 30 minute drives I took to the function which added to my frustration. I had so much time and energy invested in something I thought was going to have a calendar week!
The doc looked over my results and said I was definitely viable for an enhancement. I came back inside a few days to do it all over again.
I'll summarize here as this story is getting quite long. Imagine how I felt going through it??
I was told the second procedure was going to exist slightly unlike from the first in that the physician would be using a pocket-size brush instead of a chemic to loosen the corneal layer. He told me at that place had been studies that the change in the procedure was giving improve results as far equally recovery time.
I didn't want to become my hopes upwardly and so I took that with a grain of salt and prepared myself for the worst.
Simply all in all, the recovery and the hurting on the second PRK surgery (the enhancement) was far less unpleasant. I would not go as far to say it was easy, but it was definitely an improvement which leads me to believe the brush technique is a better choice. TIP: When you go for your first appointment ask the doctor HOW they volition complete the procedure and inquire near the brush method.
The first week was nevertheless tough with being tired and all the heart drops only by the second week I was already dorsum on the figurer. I went through the same light sensitivity bug merely it lasted only about ten days.
I followed all directions and went in for follow-up appointments equally directed. And again, I felt like my eyes were MUCH Ameliorate however still non perfect. I couldn't come across equally well-baked equally I used to with contacts and had a difficult time reading signs far away. The doctor told me, I was not done healing and to give it time. Three to six months to be exact.
Did my Second PRK Surgery Work? Blurry Vision 2 Years later PRK
Seven months after my surgery, I went for a regular center exam at a Vision Center. I did not tell them well-nigh my history until after the consultation. She confirmed my suspicion that I needed glasses or contacts to proceeds a 20/twenty outlook. Oh and I nonetheless take a slight astigmatism in my left center.
My prescription is depression with a -0.75 in both optics, a 20/25 visual acuity. It's non terrible since my sometime prescription pre-surgery was -5.50 in both eyes BUT my vision is not equally crisp as before with contacts (and I've been used to that clarity for my entire life), I do not experience comfortable driving without glasses, and at present that my eyes are so dry I cannot habiliment contacts which annoys me because I tin't stand glasses.
Also, my eyes are extremely sensitive and they were never before. I thought information technology would subside after some time just after 1 full twelvemonth after my final procedure, it hasn't. For example, if I am cutting onions my eyes don't simply water and get a little ruby-red, it feels similar someone threw acrid in my eyes. And if an eyelash gets in there, spotter out because it feels like someone is gouging them.
I reached out to the center eye and they would non give me any of my money back and told me if my optics get any worse to come back in to see if I am a candidate for a 2nd enhancement. A THIRD EYE SURGERY??!! I don't call up and so.
So here I am ii eye surgeries later with a new astigmatism, many missed days of work, chronic dry out center, and a prescription for glasses.
Thanks for sticking around to read about my personal experience. I felt compelled to share then people out there contemplating cosmetic eye surgery are fully aware of all the risks and complications that can happen. I am told I am in a 2% – 5% group but the more I read, the more I am discovering that percentage might exist drastically understated.
The more research I did on PRK complications after my first procedure, I realized my experience is not that uncommon, there are so many PRK recovery stories out there. After a reporter in Michigan committed suicide, some are asking if it was linked to her LASIK complications. Have you had an experience with PRK or LASIK? Delight share it with the states in the comments!
GET THE Word OUT! SHARE ON PINTEREST!
Source: https://www.dangtravelers.com/lasik-prk-recovery-timeline-complications/
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