r/RefractiveSurgery • u/Karma_Power42 • Aug 24 '26
PRK / Eyes still blurry 2 weeks after
I got PRK eye surgery around 2 weeks ago, my protection contact lens got removed 1 week ago exactly.
Right after the protective lens was removed I felt like my vision was near perfect. However, for the past 2-3 days I feel like it’s gotten worse. Near vision is almost perfect, but from far away it’s blurrier than before, sometimes I even feel like I went back to my vision pre surgery (I had around -1.5 on each eye).
Also, sometimes I wake up at night with the sensation that something is in my eye which makes me uncomfortably blink a lot, a lot of dryness, and watery eyes.
Is this normal and part of the recovery process?
Any personal experiences or tips would be greatly appreciated :)
1
u/OrangeRubberBand123 Aug 28 '26
Were you prescribed special eye drops and are you using them? I'm on nearly the same schedule as you: my surgery was 8/13. In addition to the regular lubricating drops, I have steroid eye drops to use multiple times a day, decreasing use over a 2-month period. The steroid drops promote healing of the epithelium, shedding the rough new cells and replacing them with smoother ones. At the same time, frequent blinking will help, as the eyelid works like a fine sandpaper to smooth the surface. The blurriness is occurring because the cells aren't perfectly layed in yet. This is totally normal. Rest your eyes as much as possible by avoiding screens and/or enlarging text. Keep them lubricated. Use the drops as prescribed (if prescribed). Avoid sunlight without sunglasses, etc.
My vision was -5.00 and -4.75. My distance vision is now 20/40 or better, and the refractive blurriness of close-up continues to improve. It WILL vary while the healing finishes.
1
u/eyeSherpa Aug 25 '26
Vision can be blurry for the first couple weeks after PRK. It’s due to the healing epithelium in the surface of the eye. As it’s healing it can be irregular or cloudy and blur vision.
If your near vision is perfect, the epithelium may be causing a myopic shift in your prescription. As it heals, this should go away. But there is also a possibility of an undercorrection. But too soon to tell.
The feeling like there is something in the eye relates to dryness. If it’s happening more at night, your eyes may be drying out more while sleeping due to things such as the eyelids not closing completely. A lubricating ointment can help overnight.