What Will My Vision Be Like After PRK? By Gordon Wong, OD on October 25, 2022

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) is a type of laser eye surgery that is used to correct refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. At GW Eye Associates, serving La Jolla, CA, Carmel Valley, CA, and other areas of San Diego, CA, we commonly perform this procedure to improve our patients vision for the long-term. Since many patients wonder what to expect after surgery, we discuss what your vision will be like after PRK in this blog post.

Vision Quality During the Recovery Phase

After the surgery, your vision will typically be blurry for the first few days to a week as your eyes heal. Here is a general timeline of what you can expect your vision to be like after PRK.

Immediately After Surgery

Your vision will be blurry and hazy, and you may feel some discomfort or mild pain in your eyes. You will need someone to drive you home after the surgery.

One to Three Days After Surgery

You will likely experience blurry vision, but the discomfort should begin to subside.

Four to Seven Days After Surgery

Your vision may still be blurry, but you should start to notice some improvement. You may also experience sensitivity to light.

One to Three Weeks After Surgery

Your vision will continue to improve, and you should be able to return to most of your normal activities. However, you may still experience some blurriness or haziness, particularly when reading or looking at small objects.

One to Three Months After Surgery

Your vision should be close to your final result, but you may still experience some minor fluctuations in your vision.

It's important to note that everyone's healing process is different, so your experience may not exactly match this timeline. Additionally, some people may experience complications or side effects after PRK that can affect their vision, so it's important to discuss any concerns you have with your eye doctor.

How Long Do PRK Results Last?

For most people, the results of PRK are permanent. Once the cornea has healed after surgery, it typically maintains its new shape and refractive properties.

However, some people may experience a regression of their results over time. This can happen if the cornea begins to reshape itself, which can be caused by age-related changes, hormonal changes, or other factors. The risk of regression is higher for people with higher levels of refractive error.

It's also possible for people to experience changes in their vision unrelated to the surgery, such as the development of presbyopia (age-related farsightedness) or cataracts. As a person ages, these vision conditions will occur. Presbyopia typically develops when people reach their 40s, and the condition does not respond to PRK treatment. These age-related conditions require different treatment approaches.

Overall, the longevity of PRK results depends on several factors, including the individual's age, overall eye health, and the severity of their refractive error.