so i'm 5 days post-op. pre-op, i was -10.0 and -10.5 (right & left eye respectively). a slight astigmastism in my left eye. here i sit, somwhere around a -4 in both. i'm guessing on that because the discount place (probably my biggest mistake) i went to won't commit to a prescription. rightfully so, as it's my understanding that my vision will fluctuate over the next month. i have glasses with -3 and -3.5 lenses in them to 'get me through' work and what-not. but i am extremely discouraged, depressed and upset. so, any advice, suggestions, personal tales would be so much appreciated...

thanks much,
-tess

Hi Tess....

I had my PRK on April 25th (15 days ago today). I had about 20/400 vision or around a -7 correction.

I'm having mixed feeling too, but I think (I hope) it's way to early for either of us to panic.

On the plus side....

--I can now function (minimally) without glasses and contacts, which is very satisfying. I can read and drive (if I know where I'm going....street signs are still tough). Before the PRK I was completely crippled without glasses or contact lenses which has always scarred the crap out of me. I'm glad that's gone.

On the negative side....
--My vision is still fairly poor....I'm not anywhere near 20/40 yet.
--My night vision is terrible....with double and triple vision while looking at artificial lights.
--I've got some minor ghosting....

I called last week and mentioned these problems and was told that it was all completely normal during the healing process and not to worry. I have no reason to doubt them at this point.

I'm going in for my third visit with the doctor next week. If there hasn't been some real improvement, though, I'm going to ask for a perscription for some disposable lenses. I've got to drive to Los Angeles in early June and I'd like to be able to read the road signs.

Anyway, hang in there! It's early yet. It really takes a month to see what you're going to end up with. We'll be okay.

Steve

Hi again, Tess.

I just noticed that you wrote your note some time ago. I hope you're doing well.

Steve

sounds like you were undercorrected but its difficult to correct so much myopia with prk so they partially corrected you. I hope your vision is excellent with thin glasses. As for being -7 this would be near 20/800 and certainly much worse than 20/400 I am -5 or so uncorrected and can barely read off the 20/400 E

At my last visit on 5/3/05 (8 days post-op), the doctor said I was doing great and predicted I would likely come up just shy of 20/20 and may need glasses for driving.

At no point before my surgery did the doctor indicate that I would have any trouble reaching at least 20/40 or better and that my myopia was well within a treatable range. I would never have agreed to this whole thing if the goal was only a partial correction.

I know I am currently considerably less then 20/40. I'm just half-way through the month-long healing process that the doctor described. I should have plenty of cornea remaining for an enhancement if that becomes necessary.

At my next appointment on Monday (assuming I don't have an amazing burst of progress over the next five days) I am going to ask for a perscription for some contact lenses and glasses. If these contact lenses and glasses bring be back to a good 20/20 and fix the double-vision and shadowing, I'll likely just stick with what I've got. If not, I'll have to think about risking an additional enhancement.

We'll see how it goes....

I had PRK done on both of my eyes on 11/5/2004. I was -7.5 before the surgery. I can now see 20/25, but it has taken a long time for my vision to reach where it is at right now. Be patient.

Had PRK May 19. The doctor told me I may still need a reading glass after the procedure. I understand that since I'm past 40 yrs. old. I went back for a follow up the following day. The other opthalmologist (not the treating doctor- he doesn't perform follow ups because he's too busy making money) told me I'm 20/40 after the check up and he's amazed at my progress. Wow, what a lier? I can barely see things and he told me I'm 20/40. Anyway, my long distance vision is pretty good. By the way, I was near sighted before the procedure. But now, my close up vision is blurry. All along I thought I will be 20/30 after the procedure. Seems like they over-corrected my vision. I always had problem with my long distance vision. Well, that's what they did. They fixed my long distance vision. But they neglected my close up vision. The other doctor told me to use reading glass. Why would I use a reading glass while shopping or cleaning the dishes? I haven't tried driving at night yet? I'm really afraid since I heard a lot of horror stories about halos, glares and ghosts.

I will wait another month if my close up vision will improve. If not I will demand an enhancement, provided there's enough cornea thickness. If this isn't possible, I might end up where I started. That is, wearing eyeglass. I'm very disappointed and depressed with the result. What an expensive experiment? I paid $3000 for this crap!!!

Can someone tell me if the blurredness is common during the healing time? My co-worker didn't experience this problem. Your response is appreciated.

Caren,

Since your PRK surgery was less than one month ago, you are by no means "finished healing". I tell my PRK patients that it may take six months or longer to reach your "final" distance vision.

As far as your near vision goes, things will likely improve, however, this type of surgery does not affect presbyopia. Many of my patients opt for monovision to delay this effect several years.

Hang in there!

Dr. Furlong

I'm the "Steve" from the earlier post. I had PRK on April 25th. I had a -8 correction with some astigmatism.

After the surgery, my vision was much improved, but I couldn't see any real details (street signs, etc....). A month went by and my vision really didn't improve and I was beginning to panic. I thought I was going to need to go back to contacts (I hate glasses). I met with my doctor almost exactly a month after my surgery. He determined that my vision was almost exactly 20/20 in both eyes but I still had some astigmatism which was throwing me off. My doctor said that we would meet again in mid-July and if the problem remained, we would do a small touch up which would correct the astigmatism and any remaining myopia. He told me to finish my bottle of steroids (almost empty) and just use lubricating drops as needed.

A couple days later I finished my steroid drops. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but within two days of ending the steroid drops, my vision dramatically improved. Now my left eye is damned close to 20/20 (if not better). My right eye is better but still has some astigmatism. Combined I have a really nice correction. I'm not going to touch my left eye. It's great. I may think about having a small enhancement on the right eye, but I'm not sure yet.

So, my advice to you is to be patient. It's too early to draw any conclusions as to your final result. Get lots of sleep. Keep your eyes lubricated. Keep up on your meds. Stay positive. Things will be okay. Take care....

Steve