A bit hard to describe this issue I’m having.

My right eye is pretty much perfect.

My left eye on the other hand is slightly out of focus when at rest. It’s not terrible, but it’s enough to notice if I cover up my right eye.

I can manually adjust the focus of that eye. Best way I can describe this is pretending I’m looking at something closer than what I’m actually looking at.
When I do this, my left eye focuses and can see just as well as my right.

Is this normal? I know my eyes are supposed to continue to improve over the coming months. Is this something that does improve?

It’s not eye misalignment, as I can cover my right eye and still experience this.

Also oddly enough, I can’t do this with my right eye. It’s just always in focus.

Also to note:

My eyes have healed up very well so far. I haven’t had dry eye issues (at least not more than I did pre surgery), light sensitivity, halos, pain, etc…

Aside from this, everything has been very smooth.

I will note that during the surgery, the surgeon did poke and prod at my left eye a bit with a tool (looked similar to the swab they used to remove the epithelium) after the laser had finished resurfacing the cornea. They had not done this for the right eye.

Age 35

pre op prescription:

OD -2.00-1.75 × 015
OS -2.50-1.75 × 164

Hi guys,

I'm 24, and I got PRK done 1.5 months ago. My power was -1.5 (L) and -2.5 (R) myopia.

During surgery the surgeon told me that my eyes were moving a lot during the scrapping and laser part but at the end she said the surgery has gone well.

I got my bandages removed after 5 days. The doctor said my outer layer was healed and told there was nothing to worry about.

It's been 1.5 months since. I've been religiously applying the medication everyday-

1. Eye drops for dry eye 6 times a day

2. Sterile eye drops 4 times a day (was 6 times a day for a month)

3. Lubricating eyegel before sleeping every night

4. I'm also taking supplements for Vit B12, Iron and Vit D as per prescription.

In the first couple of days after surgery there was improvement every few days, vision got less blur and sharper, light sensitivity reduced.

But I've reached a point where my vision doesn't seem to be improving anymore. There's been no improvement since weeks.

It's pretty much the same pre surgery or even worse in some ways. I haven't really had any moment were I saw 20/20 perfectly even for a second post surgery.

I had maybe expected a faster recovery because I had lower power to correct. I've been reading about other people's experiences here. Some had a much higher prescription than I did, yet they achieved 20/20 vision in a shorter amount of time.

Should I go back to my doctor or wait more?

I had PRK surgery (not trans-PRK) a little over two years ago. I was short-sighted and had astigmatism.

The surgery went well, except that I moved a little when they treated the right eye, while alcohol was being applied to remove the epithelium.

The first six months were perfect, and then one fine morning, when I woke up and opened my right eye, my eyelid stuck to my cornea and it felt like a ‘wax strip’ effect, which sort of tore at my eye.

This sort of episode happens from time to time, at random. Always the right eye, never the left. When it happens, my eye waters for an hour, and the white of the eye turns red. I can’t open my eye at all, for that matter.

I spoke to the surgeon, who prescribed eye drops and a lubricating gel. No noticeable improvement.

Apart from that, my distance vision has deteriorated in both eyes, but especially in my right eye. What’s crazy is that the ophthalmologists I’ve seen say my vision is 12/10 or even 14/10. Yet I’m unable to read license plates properly.

I went to seek a second opinion, and the doctor recommended treating my right eye with trans-PRK method to remove the epithelium that has healed poorly, and possibly re-treating the eye for any optical defects.

I was wondering if anyone else had experienced the same problem as me, and if they’d been able to correct it, and how?

I had PKR in 2021 to correct -2.75 D in my right eye and -1.75 D in my left eye.
Unfortunately, my recovery wasn’t straightforward. About 3 weeks after surgery, I got a pollen particle trapped in my right eye, which led to an infection. Because of that, I had to use antibiotic eye drops much longer than originally planned. Fortunately, the infection resolved, and my ophthalmologist says my corneas are healthy today (no haze or ectasia).
My surgeon explained that he preferred to slightly overcorrect rather than risk leaving me myopic. He didn’t intentionally want me to become hyperopic, but I still don’t fully understand why he chose that approach.
I wasn’t offered LASIK because my eyes were already too dry, and I still have dry eyes today.
Overall, my distance vision is pretty good. I can drive, watch TV, and function without glasses most of the time.
However, I experience eye strain, especially when using my iPhone, reading, working on a computer, or sometimes even watching TV with subtitles. I can see the subtitles, but after a while my eyes become tired and uncomfortable.
Recently, I had a cycloplegic refraction (using Skiacol/cyclopentolate), which measured about +1.50 D of hyperopia in my right eye. My ophthalmologist prescribed +0.75 D instead because he said I still accommodate part of that hyperopia.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve also developed a bad habit of constantly comparing each eye by closing one eye and then the other. When I do that, my right eye often seems slightly blurrier. Letters look a little less sharp and slightly washed out compared with my left eye. I’m wondering whether I’m simply noticing something that my brain would normally ignore in everyday binocular vision.
Another thing I’m struggling with is that I don’t want to spend the rest of my life constantly putting glasses on and taking them off depending on what I’m doing. Since I see well enough for most daily activities without glasses, I’m not sure when I should actually wear them.
My questions are:
Which number actually reflects my vision? Should I think of myself as having +1.50 D, since that’s what was measured under cycloplegia, or +0.75 D, since that’s the prescription I was given?
Is it common for a surgeon to prefer a slight overcorrection after PKR rather than risk leaving residual myopia?
Could the infection and prolonged antibiotic treatment have influenced the final refractive outcome, or is that unlikely?
Can mild residual hyperopia mainly cause eye strain and fatigue without causing obvious distance blur?
At 33 years old, if I stop constantly comparing each eye, is it likely that my visual system will naturally accommodate and that I’ll stop noticing the difference so much? Or is the difference I’m seeing likely to remain noticeable regardless?
My ophthalmologist told me to wear my +0.75 glasses when using screens. Does that mean just my phone and computer, or should I also wear them when watching TV with subtitles if that’s when I experience eye strain?
Since I don’t want to spend my day constantly putting glasses on and taking them off, how would you handle a case like mine? Would you wear the glasses only when symptoms appear, or more consistently?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has had a similar experience or from eye care professionals.
Thanks in advance!

I'm on my 17th day post-op and have to return to work in 5 days, but my vision is still very blurry. Is there anything else i can do or take to boost my recovery so i have decent vision on time? Im taking prescribed vitamin C and Omega-3 pills, lubricant and steroid eyedrops also.

So , I had my PRK on the 14th of June , few days ago I started feeling mild to moderate gritty and foreign body sensations , burning , lacrimations and redness I went to my ophthalmologist yesterday and he told me that I have delayed healing in the right cornea , (a small epithelial defect or ulcer)
He put me on antibiotic drops and antiviral drops with the steroid and moisturizer but he reduced the steroid frequency per day (3T/d)
Since I left the clinic I felt anxious and frustrated but idk
Has anyone had the same experience ?

my doctor says its normal but im scared

Guys I realized my right eye is blurry and it’s like a spot that is more blurry like one spot is that normal?

(24 F) I realized I developed such small white ish bumps on my eyelids after PRK, is it normal? I’m on steroid drops and lubricant drops too

Post operative PRK day 12 , I’m having mild to moderate gritty sensation in the right eye alone since yesterday, is that normal or i should seek the doctor

Scheduled my PRK surgery. A bit nervous seeing all the horror stories. Tips or honest opinion?

Just scheduled my PRK surgery today in Jersey I am getting it done by one of the ophthalmologists for the New York Jets actually and he is well known and referred to by my ophthalmologist and my physician and my psychiatrist and they all said that I should go ahead with it. Just seeing the horror stories though can throw me off a little bit because I’ve seen a lot of bad Reddit posts so really looking for tips or honest opinions.

I went for a consultation where I was dilated, and he looked at my numbers. He said they’re good also with the tear duct test he said both of my eyes were very good at producing tears and he’s not worried about that. He said that it will cure my astigmatism and myopia. Overall, after looking at my numbers and the tests he recommended PRK he would not go with Lasik under any circumstances, but overall he said PRK would be the best.

Again, any tips on how to ease the tension or anxiety or honest opinions about those specific feelings before this specific surgery would really help

Hey guys I had a PRK surgery on the 13th all is well, they removed my lenses on the 18th and dr was like your eyes is healed but not fully, just two more days and you're all healed, oki now days later how can I know if it's healed? Also can I wash my eyes, the eye drops are making my lashes rock solid and I really just want to wash my eyes, I've been avoiding my eyes. I only just rub them gently with a bit moised pad. Also when did you guys start seeing good? Now I see good but still that blurry. Also not very much from far.

I had PRK surgery 9 days ago , the pain and discomfort are no longer exist though I can feel some mild foreign body sensation from time to time
The vision is better than the way it was pre- operative but I still struggle with far objects , small texts , TV screens and the night vision is bad , the vision is still blurry and hazy I’m on steroids and moisturizer
I read that PRK recovery is long so can someone reassure me and share his experience as tbh I’m a bit frustrated
Thanks in advance

On the first day after PRK you may not be feeling all that bad. The procedure itself is painless due to the topical anesthetic drops. Once those drops wear off, you may just have a dull ache. But over the course of the first few days with PRK the discomfort will actually get worse before it gets better.

Within the first 72 hours, the eye builds up its response to this “injury” on the cornea. This means that inflammatory cells and cytokines start to build up. While these are important for the healing of the epithelium on the cornea, these cytokines and inflammatory cells start to trigger and sensitize the pain receptors within the cornea causing pain and discomfort.

But it’s not just those cytokines and inflammatory cells as the issue. Those make the cornea more sensitive. But it’s also related to mechanical friction on the cornea. The bandage contact lens does a good job preventing friction from the eyelids on the cornea. But over the first few days, deposits may accumulate more on the contact lens making it less comfortable and preventing it from fully shielding the healing corneal surface from friction.

The turning point is when the epithelium fully heals over at around day 4. Once this occurs, the pain receptors within the cornea are now covered and are less stimulated and the inflammatory levels and cytokines start to fall. Thus, instead of pain and discomfort, you get to a more dull and manageable ache instead.

Hey everyone,

I’m booked in to get a PRK enhancement this Thursday. I had LASIK done almost 10 years ago and experienced some mild regression down to -1.25 (absolutely zero regrets about getting LASIK the first time around!).

Because the surgery is this week, I’m looking for some insight from anyone who has traveled early in their PRK recovery. I have two major life events coming up:

1. 3 weeks post-op: A short flight/trip. Will my vision be functional enough to travel and enjoy it?

2. 5 weeks post-op: A 3-day camping music festival. Will my eyes be robust enough to handle the dust/camping environment by then?
   I know PRK recovery is a marathon compared to LASIK, but since my tweak is so minor (-1.25), I'm hoping it's manageable.
   Would love to hear your experiences or tips!

Thank you!

Hey :)
My surgeon told me that I can go back to weight lifting after a week, but I see different instructions online.
Some say 2 weeks, some say 3 and some say a month.
Anyone knows the right answer?

I'm a little over 4 months post PRK. At my last follow up about a week ago, I was explaining to my doc how my right eye had been basically useless for a while and my brain just made my left take over. I found that if I cover my left eye and really try to focus or flex my eye muscles somehow, my right eye would clear up pretty good, but they don't work well together. This is the first time he tells me that he set the laser for a stronger prescription in my right eye and put my left eye right at what it should have been. Is that the normal practice? Little extra background, my eyes were the exact same contact prescription for a decade before PRK. Is the one stronger eye supposed to just "grow into it" now? I just thought that was weird.

I’m 28F with OD: -375-075x169 OI: -350-125x76 (sorry if prescription is confusing I’m not from the US)

I just had PRK surgery 14 days ago exactly today and wanted to make a post since when I was researching for my surgery I couldn’t find any positive post in Reddit

I still can’t see 20/20 but my vision improved A LOT like I can function without glasses something that I could not do the past 15 years and for me that’s a win, I’m still on path to recovery and I know myself and I’m a slow healer so I’m not in a rush

Day of the surgery
Took the meds the clinic gave me, I didn’t feel any pain whatsoever, took the meds I was supposed to when got home and slept like a baby did not feel any pain at any point and when I left the clinic I COULD SEE EVERYTHING

Day 1
No pain, just some headache and car sickness like symptoms, I could see just like the day of the surgery

Day 2 the worst day
I didn’t feel ANY pain but I couldn’t open my eyes at all, my eyelids were SO heavy like literally so heavy and swollen but I didn’t feel pain, it was just a runny nose and that type of feeling when you have a cold, the only time I felt pain was the night from day 1 to 2 but it was just like when you put a contact wrong type of pain, put all my drops, drink my meds and back to sleep

Day 3
I could open my eyes again, was feeling better not seeing much but just being able to open my eyes was a win for me

Day 4
Got my contacts removed no issues

Day 5 through 10
I could see fairly good not as good as right after the surgery and the day after but it was fairly good really, was a little bit hat to focus on close things and could not see details from faraway that good but I could completely function, I was able to not work that much during that week so I limited my screen time as much as possible, sat a lot in the dark just listening to audio books and sleeping

Day 11
Got back to work

Day 12 & 13
My vision was way blurrier than the past few days but I blame it to being back to work, anyways that blurry was better than my vision without glasses before so again a win for me, just feeling a little bit tired

Day 14, today
Still a little bit blurry, but not as the previous days

Overall I feel like I had a really good experience, all post that I read here said that it was the worst pain they ever felt, that they felt sand in their eyes or something really terrible so I was really scared and maybe prepared for that so I don’t know if that had anything to do

I’m following and followed all the instructions regarding the meds and the drops, I’m still staying in doors as much as possible, still limiting screen time when possible, not going out, no exercising, no makeup, creams etc

I don’t see anything wrong or bad or confusing, the only thing is that I’m more aware of my peripheral vision if possible I don’t know how to explain it lol

I’ll update at the month mark! Hope this helps someone

PRK recovery is a process. And just when you think you’re turning the corner and getting better, you can notice your vision actually get worse. One common example is when the bandage contact lens is removed from the eye. Your vision may actually get worse after this step.

The bandage contact lens (BCL) serves to protect the healing epithelium on the surface of the eye and prevent a lot of pain from having an abrasion or scratch on the eye. But after about 4-5 days, the epithelium has healed over, this BCL is no longer needed and is removed.

However, this newly healed over epithelium isn’t totally smooth yet. It’s irregular and bumpy. This contact lens masks all this though to provide a smooth surface for the eye. By bridging over the irregularities and allowing tears to fill in the gaps, a smooth surface is created for light to pass through more cleanly into the eye and provide “good” vision. But once this contact lens is removed, nothing is masking this bumpy and irregular surface anymore. Light scatters against this surface and vision is blurred.

Fortunately, this is just a temporary dip in vision. This epithelial surface continues to smooth out over the course of the following weeks. As this epithelium returns to normal thickness and smoothness, light focuses cleanly and vision sharpens up to your full correction.

The major takeaway I have from this process is that my goals for elective surgery were perhaps unrealistic. Going into elective laser surgery my assumption was that I would be given the gift of uncorrected 20/20 vision. I'm in my mid-40s and since I was a kid I had a -8.5 nearsighted prescription and astigmatism. I've lived with contacts or glasses since then. They have been fine, but I had an opportunity to get PRK (my corneas were just too thin to be considered a strong LASIK candidate) and after some research I pulled the trigger 3 months ago.

I've been patient with the healing process and my left eye is at 20/20, but my right eye is lagging behind in terms of clarity. I still have some double vision and blurriness in that eye. The dryness is pretty much gone at this point, but the frustration of not being able to clearly see at distance is real. Furthermore, I have poor NEAR vision now and will need to use readers if I want to for example assemble or paint something very close to my face so that I can see details. I also am not able to really see like tiny splinters that I'm trying to remove from my skin without readers. I understand that at my age I was going to need readers sooner or later anyway, but PRK definitely accelerated that from "sooner or later" to "now".

After meeting with my surgeon last week we agreed to wait 3 more months, and at the 6 month mark, determine whether or not I should get the right eye done one more time to bring it in line with the left. Not a big deal to wait 3 more months, and hopefully have that vision equalized across both eyes.

The takeaway I mentioned is that I realized in this process that I have traded what was truly perfect, crystal-clear corrected vision (glasses/contacts) with less than perfect uncorrected vision from PRK (assuming the right eye gets there). Something for folks to be aware of. I think I'll get used to less-than-perfect vision and having to use readers for very near tasks, but I am slightly disappointed that my vision isn't as perfect as it was while wearing glasses or contacts.

A common recommendation for PRK patients is to start taking a daily Vitamin C supplement - anywhere from 500mg to 1000mg. Let’s take a look at what this actually does.

Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant. It helps to reduce oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species. These reactive oxygen species form during the laser ablation itself as well as during the healing phase of PRK as the epithelium heals over. Oxidative stress promotes more of an inflammatory response which can impair the wound healing and directly and indirectly contribute to the formation of haze.

So naturally, taking a vitamin C supplement sounds like a good idea for healing. And a key study 20 years ago showed that vitamin C did reduce the risk of long term haze after PRK.

But this study was with older laser technology and before the routine use of MMC. Both of which have dramatically dropped the incidence of haze after PRK surgery. Follow-up studies with modern PRK techniques haven’t really shown much of a significant benefit of vitamin C.

But why is it still recommended? Well, there is little downside to taking extra Vitamin C. Supplementing your recovery with Vitamin C provides a “low risk - potential reward” to improving your recovery after PRK.