San Jose PRK doctors

"Hazy vision" does not necessarily equal corneal haze. As the two previous MDs have already noted, corneal haze (a loss of clarity of the cornea, the front part of the eye) can occur with any corneal surgery, though it is extremely rare with LASIK, and very rare now with PRK thanks to the adjunctive (intraoperative) use of a medication called Mitomycin-C. Corneal haze is a euphamism for scarring.

Hazy vision, on the other hand, might have several possible causes post-LASIK. Certainly corneal haze or scarring can cause hazy vision. Dryness of the eye can give a sensation of haziness, as can corneal edema or swelling which is common in the weeks following LASIK and PRK.

Also, residual refractive error (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism) can make the vision hazy, though it more typically causes blurring. Some people may actually say their vision is hazy but they really mean it's blurry. Hazy vision can also mean a reduction in what is known as "contrast sensitivity." This has to do with the optical quality of the eye, and the effect of optical aberrations such as spherical aberration on your visual perception. Things that wavefront LASIK help reduce, or keep neutral. As these aberrations increase, which typically occurs with non-wavefront LASIK, there is more of a burden on your brain to filter them out to keep your vision from being perceived as "hazy."

And finally, other non-corneal problems can lead to hazy vision. This would include cataract, and retinal troubles. Glaucoma, an elevation of pressure in the eye, if acute can lead to swelling of the cornea and hazy vision.