PRK: Q&A

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Unsatisfactory PRK Results

I had my PRK surgery done last month, my right eye seems to do well and then fluctuate throughout the day, however my left eye feels the same as the day of surgery...I am not happy with the results. What went wrong? Does this mean my left eye will need an enhancement? Is this normal? Will it get better?

5 Doctor Answers | Asked by bbh in sunset beach
+6

PRK and healing

It is far too early to make any final conclusions about either eye. Most likely, both eyes will continue to improve over the next 2-4 months and you should end up happy. I have never been able to explain why one eye seems to progress more quickly than another, but I see this all the time! By the end of the first month the surgeon should be able to take another topographic measurement and give you some predictive information about what the next few months will be like. It is too early to... more
+2

PRK recovery can take months,

PRK recovery can take months, generally much longer than LASIK. That is the advantage of the flap. The healing time is much quicker and less painful.
+2

PRK takes time to heal

The first laser procedure introduced was PRK since it seemed at the time that it was more straight forward, and it was rapidly eclipsed by LASIK for the very reason that the visual recovery is so much faster. In LASIK patients regain excellent vision in just a day or two, whereas PRK is much more variable. From your question, it sounds like it has been about a month since your procedure, and in some cases PRK can take longer than this to fully stabilize. Usually the vision with modern PRK... more
+2

PRK healing times

Healing times vary greatly with PRK surgery. They can range from weeks to months. Some of the healing time will vary based on your age, how much correction was applied the amount of astigmatism corrected, history of previous surgeries, and general corneal health. Its time to discuss this with your doctor since an exam is needed to determine what is going on. Nothing necessary went wrong, and it is far too early to consider whether you need an enhancement. Have patience, in certain cases... more
+1

Fluctuating vision after PRK

PRK is an excellent method of correcting nearsightedness, but its biggest drawback is that it takes longer to heal. Unlike LASIK where most people have good vision the next day, with PRK there is usually substantial fluctuation of vision for the first several weeks and it can take as much as three or four months before the final result is known.
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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.

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