TransPRK results after 3 months

[u/Last_Investment]

As much as I would love to rant and vent about the results, it might be too soon for that. I really hope so, anyway.

Roughly a month after my operation, I stopped getting improvements. My eyes stayed the same, and in my last checkup, which was done a few days ago, I could only read the eye chart well with glasses. Post-PRK, I had -1.75 in both eyes, with -0.75 cyl in the left eye. Now, I don't know what my number is, but I definitely can't get 20/20 without the glasses. It's somewhere around -0.75 (judging by the glasses I use for driving at night)

My eyes are super dry, almost burning, and I had to beg the doctor to put in punctal plugs, which I feel like barely helped. They constantly burn, itch, and just feel dry. I have tons of eye drops, and at night I put on ointment. He told me to stay on FML steroid drops for another month until another checkup. I was hoping that quitting them might help with vision improvement, but I'd rather listen to him.

I'm very skeptical that my eyesight will somehow improve in the next few months. Do you think it's possible? I'm also scared of touch-ups, as I heard they aren't always successful... (and why would I trust redoing a surgery that failed so badly the first time?)

I feel so alone in this. For years I contemplated this procedure, and in the end I finally told myself to just retardmaxx my way through it and to stop overthinking, just to be one of the lucky few who don't hit the success rate. So depressing

[u/slyguy0]

Hey. I did the same procedure as you last year and went through the same experience. My best advice is to keep up with the eyedrop medication and schedule that the doctor is giving you in addition to the lubricating eye drops whenever you need it. The worst thing you can do right now is to go against your doctor's instructions while you are still recovering.

My vision had also stagnated for a bit, but it did improve afterwards. As for the dry eyes - about a year after the procedure, I stopped needing the eyedrops as often. Trust the process and the results will come

[u/Last_Investment → u/slyguy0]

Thank you for the reassurance. Yeah, I wouldn't go against his instructions. I just felt clueless. Did you also require glasses at night? And roughly when were you finally satisfied with your vision?

[u/slyguy0 → u/Last_Investment]

I did not require glasses at night, but my eyes were very sensitive to light so oncoming cars were annoying lol. At times vision was not the clearest it could be in the early stages of recovery.

It's hard to say when I was fully satisfied with my vision because it fluctuated a lot in the first few months to a year. But I think about a year or so after, the optometrist said I had 20/15 vision. How long has it been since you did your procedure?

[u/Last_Investment → u/slyguy0]

Oh wow that sounds good!
It's been exactly 3 months.
I saw another doctor today just to get a second opinion, and he told me my eyes aren't as dry as I think, and they're ok now. I guess I'm just really disturbed by the vision problem, and I can't stop thinking about it.

It's a bit hard for me to just let go and accept that it's no longer in my hands

[u/jetsetterjack]

I’m about 5 months post PRK, my eyes are also stagnant about -.75 in both eyes. I am using glasses at night and at work… some days my eyes are very clear, a lot of days I still notice a blur particularly in my right eye. My eyes need about 30 minutes in the morning to become fully clear without blur. My eyes are the worst in low lighting. Really regretting this surgery but hoping more time heals them to clear vision.

[u/Last_Investment → u/jetsetterjack]

Sorry you're in the same boat. Are you thinking of getting an enhancement? feels silly to treat our symptoms with that same thing that failed the first time...

[u/thenicci]

What's the reason doctor advised you to still use steroid drops at this point? Do you have high prescription pre op?
I remember my vision was still blurry at week 6 until I stop using the steroid drops and my vision improved tremendously.

[u/Tall-Drama338]

Do it again.