Post PRK lasik experiences

[StuckInTheEast]

I've read through a couple threads mentioning PRK/lasik on here. Appears a number of members have had the procedure. I figured I'd add my journey and ask if any others have had similar post prk experiences.

I pulled the trigger about 3 months back and had PRK done on both eyes.
Overall one of the best things I've done for myself, but it was not all sunshine and rainbows.

The first 4 days post op were pretty brutal. I had procedure in the morning on a thursday and the ride home and first 12hrs was probably one of the most uncomfortable times of my life.
Luckily that was short lived.
The next 4 days was a total roller coaster of can see great, can't see $hit, eyes burning, eyes feeling fine. After first week it settled into period of mediocre, but vastly improved vision with gradual improvement each day. In retrospect, I should have taken a while week off work...not just 4 days.

Now 3 months out my vision is 20/15 and stable.
I still have some blur in the morning first waking up and using eye drops couple times a day.
My main negative side effects currently are as follows:
* solvent fumes, which I'm around regularly for work, are pretty rough on the eyes even in the smallest quantity...and god forbid the tiniest droplet of brake clean gets around your safety glasses, burns like no other. That was not an issue pre PRK.
*Onions...I cannot cut onions with out looking like I just got the worst news of my lifetime. Eyes water up, squinting and just gotta walk away for a bit. Never had the slightest sensitivity to onions prior to PRK
*Smoke. Grilling or by campfire definitely gotta watching wind. It's not as bad as onions, but definitely have sensitivity to smoke that was not there before PRK.
* Eyelashes or Debris. Any kind of foreign object definitely brings more discomfort than before.

Some of this is still the healing process. I was told by my surgeon things would still be healing for up to 6 months post op.

Long of it short, still the best $4k I've spent to not deal with glasses or contacts. PRK over traditional lasik giving the peace of mind of no flap to worry about I think was worth the initial misery.

Curious if anyone here that's had PRK done recently or some time ago has any long term side effects or issues that have arisen years down the road. I'm hoping the smoke and onion sensitivity let's up over next few months, but if not it's a small price to pay I suppose.

 

[bridgerbenson]

I’m not sure the difference between PRK and the other, but I had one of them done about 12-14 years ago. Still perfect vision. My recovery time was about 24-48 hours. It changed my night vision as far driving in the dark but have gotten accustomed to it.
For me and my lifestyle, I would pay to have the procedure done every year if I had to because I appreciate waking up with perfect vision so much and despised glasses and contacts that much.


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[B_Reynolds_AK]

I had PRK done when I was 24. 42 now. Vision was 20/400 pre surgery and wore contacts. It literally felt like a disability, as when a contact fell out doing something like surfing, or in the morning before I put contacts in, I literally could not function properly.

There was about a 1 wk recovery period as the epithelium layer grew back. However my vision was instantly perfect at the clinic before the blurryness of the healing started.

Night vision was slightly affected and I saw star bursts while driving at night for maybe a year or two. Also close vision seemed to be changed slightly after the surgery, but hard to describe exactly as I could still see fine within 6”.

However, now at 42, my vision is still 20/15. No discernible side effects and no need for reading glasses up close. Absolute best decision I’ve ever made and worth every penny of the $4k that I spent.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

I had PRK 13 years ago. My vision seems to have regressed slightly over the years since the operation but not to the point of needing to resume wearing glasses/contacts. I’m still more sensitive to smoke/fumes/onions and see more “star bursting” at night than pre-surgery, but both of those annoyances have waned in severity over the years. All things considered, PRK was the best money I’ve ever spent. Before the operation, I was severely nearsighted and couldn’t read the big E on the vision test chart.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

I’m not sure the difference between PRK and the other, but I had one of them done about 12-14 years ago. Still perfect vision. My recovery time was about 24-48 hours. It changed my night vision as far driving in the dark but have gotten accustomed to it.
For me and my lifestyle, I would pay to have the procedure done every year if I had to because I appreciate waking up with perfect vision so much and despised glasses and contacts that much.


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You had tradition lasik where they make a flap I'd say...way faster bounce back, just have potential for flap dislocation. It's rare, but I just couldn't get past the thought of catching a stick to the eye 1500 miles from home in the middle of nowhere and dislodged that flap. Everytime I remotely question going the route I did, that mental image reassures me...way over thought most likely and that same scenario could still be bad, just not as bad as a flap of cornea loose or torn from my eyeball.
PRK is more like 24 -48 weeks total recovery...just not too bad after the first week or two.
For the record, my up close vision was terrible for first 2 weeks, but as good or better than with contacts pre surgery at this point.

It does take longer to change focus from up close to distant now, that has been improving slowly though.

 

[ND1612]

I had PRK done in 2017, previously wore glasses or contacts and couldn't see a dang thing without them. I was originally going in for Lasik and during the consult they decided the area they wanted to cut the flap wasn't a consistent enough thickness, so the Dr recommended PRK instead. They were very thorough with explaining what I would be seeing/feeling in the hours and days after the procedure, and the healing process matched what they explained almost down to the hour.

I could see perfectly immediately after, and once that outer layer started healing it got progressively more blurry. Originally I had only planned on a few days off of work also but ended up taking the whole week because I couldn't see well enough to drive there comfortably. After a week I could see further away, well enough to drive easily, but close up things like my computer screen at work were blurry. It took probably 4-6 weeks before i felt like my vision was really crisp again. That whole timeline matched what the docs had told me though, just had to be patient.

Almost 8 years later it's still 20/15 and still some of the best money I've ever spent. No real side effects that I can remember. Maybe a little more sensitive to fumes and things like you said, but not enough to even think about it at this point.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I had lasik done 1.5yrs ago, one eye is perfect, one is -0.25 off (so really close). Other than being a bit more dry at times its been great no dealing with contacts anymore esp. when hunting/camping. Also I haven't really been swimming much since but that was always annoying with contacts.

 

[Dave_S]

I had PRK done around 2009. Vision went from something like a -5ish prescription to 20/20. I didn't do a great job with post op care as I deployed shortly after. My vision has definitely degraded over time and I want to say I was back in contacts within 2 years. That being said, my current prescription is still less than what I started with before the surgery. I absolutely had some light sensitivity at night initially, and I feel like I'm a little more sensitive than most to other headlights when I'm driving at night now.

 

[waspocrew]

I've had a few friends and mentors have Lasik or PRK. I wish I had my eyes done - been in glasses/contacts for the last 20 years or so. When I was finishing my fellowship in 2023, my hospital offered Lasik and PRK for free for employees. It's a huge hospital system so the consult took nearly a year to even happen.

Corneas were deemed too thin for Lasik, so PRK was offered. Came back for a follow up for measurements and the surgeon seemed off that day. He did the rooming, not the nurses. Did somewhere around 5 tests, then went to write the measurements down. He was frustrated and couldn't find where to document in the chart (said "I can't even find his last note here"). One quick look and I told him he was in the wrong patient chart. He brushed it off, said Epic (the EMR) had been doing that all day.

I didn't have any confidence in him performing my surgery, so I asked the eye center for another surgeon and they wouldn't allow me to switch without going back to the end of the line ( ~ 1 year wait). Told them I was a soon to be graduating fellow, moving across the country, etc. and still wouldn't budge. So I walked away from it.

I'm still bummed about the situation, but I was also nervous about going through it (recovery, long term results, etc). I really need my eyes for my profession (Mohs surgery), so at the end of the day, just happy I can still work and see (even if it's with glasses haha).

 

[wyosteve]

I had PRK done in 1997 in Toronto. Spent one day there after the procedure for a check up and then flew home. No side effects. Last vision test was still better than 20/20. Sorry to hear about your issues and hope they resolve.

 

[Reloader]

I had PRK several years ago. Fumes and smoke still bother me every once and a while. It has gotten better over time.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

I had PRK done in 1997 in Toronto. Spent one day there after the procedure for a check up and then flew home. No side effects. Last vision test was still better than 20/20. Sorry to hear about your issues and hope they resolve.

Appreciated, I'm not too concerned with any of them being only 3 months out. More wondering if others have had similar.
Even given the slow recovery and side effects so far, I'd do it again tomorrow vs going back to glasses or contacts...id just plan for more off time from work and hang a few more blankets over windows in the house pre-op.

 

[Eagle]

Had lasik January of 22. Dealt with dry eyes for about 1.5 years, but eventually improved. Vision is 20/12-15 combined, which is incredible after having been -4.75 in both eyes, corrected to 20/15 with contacts for 25 years prior to. Left eye was slightly over corrected but seems to have settled in over the last year.

Onions/smoke/fumes were a problem for a couple years but don’t notice it anymore at all. Good luck with your recovery!

I turned 40 last September, so nervous about age related decline, but so far I’m good.

 

[LCV]

Lasik 7/8 years ago. Only issue is a little bit light sensitive now, not really a factor outside of driving at night.

 

[Loper]

I wore glasses around age 4 or 5 and then contacts around age 12. Back around 2008 I looked into LASIK and the doctor said I likely wouldn’t be able to do the procedure but could do PRK. During my final consult they reevaluated and I qualified for LASIK. If I recall the recovery was relatively quick, like 24/48 hours and I don’t recall any side effects.

After wearing glasses and contacts for my whole life, it was amazing to be able to see without them and the cost was worth it.

As I’ve gotten older, I can tell my vision has degraded and I bought some inexpensive reading glasses a few years ago. I remember when, I had my initial procedure the doctor told me that at some point I would probably need an enhancement to remedy any degradation, however, I’m a little more hesitant to do that now, just knowing what the procedure is.

 

[Tahoe1305]

I’m a decade out from PRK. My experience was a tad different than the OPs but my correction was minor (20/80 if I recall). It sucked for a day and I drove home from out of state 2 days later. Worked the following day. Dry eyes the first few months in the morning but minimal/no pain.

I can still see almost everything on the eye charts 20/10-20/15 depending on the day. Was 20/10 for the first 8 years at least.

I’ll tell you from a hunting perspective it was a game changer. That extra acuity for me meant seeing tail and ear flashes at a distance. My hunting buddies are usually impressed on what catches the eye.

No regrets.

 

[Ryan Rothhaar]

LASIK done while I was finishing grad school in 1998. Little bit of halo at night in one eye, some dry/sensitivity but not much. Back into glasses in about 2020, not much of a prescription, and stable. I could get by without in an emergency. Dr said this is typical and lots of folks get tune ups, but it will wreck close vision to have the tune up. I’d rather keep a mild distance prescription at this point than need reading glasses full time just to get around in the house. I still don’t have bifocals. 52 yrs old now, no regrets about lasik, just be realistic about likely long term situation.

R

 

[OKHunter84]

I had lasik done 15 years ago. Vision is still perfect and no regrets. I've had five other people I'm close with have the procedure done (not sure if there's was lasik or prk) and all had good experiences as well. I only know one person who's had a bad experience and vision revert back for the most part.

I have a little halo at night, sometimes dry eyes, maybe a little more trouble with allergies making my eyes itchy but in Oklahoma it could happen to anyone. I actually took a branch in the eye once while hunting afterwards and it didn't wreck my eye. I was nervous for a little bit.

I can agree with what another guy said in the thread further up, I'd get it done every year if I had to. It's been that much of a game changer working in manufacturing / oilfield and with outdoor activities. Glasses with rifle Scopes, binos and such are very obnoxious to me.

 

[Thinkingman]

OP-You probably read my post in another thread about having Lasik done in2004 then wanting a tune-up in 2023.
I was evaluated and scheduled to have PRK and in the pre-op with the Dr that was performing the surgery, I asked if he could do Lasik instead. He looked carefully at my eye and said he could still see the edge of the flap and felt like he could raise it again and do Lasik. I got a great result and the staff at the clinic were impressed that I got Lasik instead of PRK.

 

[Glendon Mullins]

OP-You probably read my post in another thread about having Lasik done in2004 then wanting a tune-up in 2023.
I was evaluated and scheduled to have PRK and in the pre-op with the Dr that was performing the surgery, I asked if he could do Lasik instead. He looked carefully at my eye and said he could still see the edge of the flap and felt like he could raise it again and do Lasik. I got a great result and the staff at the clinic were impressed that I got Lasik instead of PRK.

where is this other post, I had lasik about 2006 or 2007 and am thinking I would like to have a "refresh" as well, would like to read about this and your experiences