What is it Like to Have PRK Surgery?

I got PRK done on each eye, one at a time. Both eyes have been healing on slightly different timelines, but here’s the general experience...

A Week Ago I Got PRK Laser Eye Surgery And Have Gone From 20/200 To 20/20 And It’s Amazing

I went under the proverbial knife and got PRK laser eye surgery. You might know the procedure as “LASIK”, which is the same idea as PRK, just different procedures. While both correct your vision to 20/20 or better, Lasik has a recovery time of basically 1 day, while PRK’s recovery time can linger on for a month or two. It’s still very safe, but the thickness of your cornea decides which procedure you need to get done. Since my corneas are thin, I had to get PRK.

My PRK Adventure

This is sorta like LASIK, but instead of cutting a flap in the outer corneal layer, they chemically remove that layer, then zap you with the laser. It involves a longer recovery time, usually several weeks to several months as that layer grows back and stabilizes.

My PRK Journal

I was shot in the eyes by lasers and lived to tell the tale. If you’re not curious about every little detail of eye surgery and recovery + gratuitous healing selfies, then skip this post.

My PRK Recovery Timeline

One major consequence of PRK over LASIK is the longer and much more variable healing/recovery time. It’s nerve-racking having blurry vision weeks and even months after surgery. The amount of time required to heal can be frustrating.

Notes on PRK eye surgery

So, it's been almost exactly two years since I originally had the procedure done, so I thought I'd write up an update for you guys. Eyesight wise, my vision is still very good.

When is PRK a Better Choice Than LASIK?

We select PRK for a patient based on clinical considerations. The challenge with PRK is that most people don’t realize that it will not produce that kind of result. Visual acuity will eventually be excellent, but it will take considerably more time, and the patient will experience more discomfort after the PRK procedure than after LASIK. The key to counseling patients who will undergo PRK is to help them adjust their expectations regarding the immediate postoperative period. They need to be prepared to expect a week of visual rehabilitation, with some discomfort in their eye.