I had my Epi Lasik on Aug 23 and things seemed to go well the day of the proceedure.
After it was done I went home and took a nap as directed and pretty much did nothing but take the drops as directed...Pred Forte, Zymar, and a lubricating drop four times a day and Zybrom twice a day.
After the procedure I couldn't really see at all, things were very blurry and even after the nap of several hours it was the same.
The next day I had such terrible pain in my right eye that the doctor had me come in and he removed the contact and removed the layer of epithelial cells on it an put a new contact on.
Now, it is four days after the procedure and I can't hardly see yet. I can't read the computer screen I am typeing on and it is a laptop about 18" from my eyes. I see double vision, my right eye is VERY blurry, and my left isn't too great either.
I am extremely worried about this. I was told the healing would be longer but this is bad. I don't know how I am going to return to work when I cannot read a book, a computer screen, or for that matter larger objects.
My original prescription was a -5.25 in my left eye and -3.25 in my right eye and I saw exetionally well with glasses and could never stand contacts. Now I hardly see well enough to do much at all.
Is this still the normal healing time? Will it get better when they remove the contacts tomorrow at my appointment? Please tell me something someone as I don't know what to think.

One tidbit, during the procedure he stopped twice during the 47 seconds of the left eye saying it drifted even though I didn't move to my knowledge, is that normal? Should I expect problems?

Removal of the epithelium (outermost layer of the cornea) can actually make final healing arrive a bit faster, but your vision will be very poor until that time. Expect poor vision for a few days after the bandage contact lens is removed, functional fuzzy vision for several days to a couple of weeks after that, and don’t expect the really crisp vision you want for 4-8 weeks. Your vision quality may recover quicker, but don’t be surprised if it takes this long.

Talk to anyone who has PRK and you will hear about delayed vision recovery.

All of the poor vision symptoms you describe could be attributed to the epithelium removal. You will need to be patient while this heals and only at about 3-6 months postop should you come to any final conclusion about your outcome. Do keep your doctor informed of any sudden or major changes in vision quality.

Did the doctor say what caused the pain and why he decided to remove the epithelium?

Glenn Hagele
http://USAEyes.org
Lasik Patient Advocacy & Surgeon Certification

I am not a doctor.

The reason he did it because I was in extreme pain from something in my eye but he couldn't find anything in there after looking.
After not even being able to open it he decided it may be some loose epithelium and removed it from that eye.
I was certainly not under the impression that healing would take weeks or even months. At this time I would not be able to work and that is going to be a major problem. I was told that things would be pretty much healed after the bandage contacts came off and that I would see great.
This is not good.

Epi-Lasik can provide reasonably functional vision shortly after surgery, but you clearly have had a complication. Removal of the epithelium will cause a delay as the cells regenerate. If it is of any consolation, the corneal epithelial cells are the fasted reproducing cells in the human body.

The short term vision is probably going to be poor, but this should resolve.

Glenn Hagele
http://USAEyes.org
Lasik Patient Advocacy & Surgeon Certification

I am not a doctor.

Well vision is still extremely blurry and difficult to do much of anything. Work is a constant headache from eye strain trying to read the computer screen.

Even the letters on the keyboard in front of me are doubled and blurry.

Night vision is terrible. Wherever there is a light I see a V-shaped reflection under it and this is quite disturbing. My vision before was excellent at night and now I am worried about that.

I truly wish that my vision becomes better soon as this is very depressing and difficult to deal with. At this point I am honestly regretting having it done at all.