Guys, had PRK done on April 3, 2012. Here is a on-going rolling diary of things. I will update time allowing/work schedule allowing
Day of Surgery - April 3 2012/late afternoon
My surgery is/was wavefront custom PRK
My dr used the Allegretto laser, which is reportedly the top machine as of present date. Dr was reportedly (as they all are) the "top" guy in my area. However, research did in fact support his reputation.
Pre surgery, i put myself on a regimen of 1000mg vitamin-c every day, beginning 30 days from surgery. This was due to various articles indicating that vitamin c is shown to reduce the cases of corneal hazing. The dr on requested to begin that regimen one week out, but i figured it was just like eating extra oranges and thus no harm no foul, so i started at 30 days.
After surgery for three days,, i was extremely (as in i almost cry) light sensitive and am wearing the darkest sunglasses the local Bass Pro Shops would sell. I was also issued a pair of basically sunglass version of swimming goggles to sleep in, by the doctor. I have no "pain" per se, just irritation and extremely red eyes since surgery. If a stranger saw me with no sunglasses they would probably think i was a serial killer or mad man, the way my eyes look. But no pain
Three days after surgery, i could type on the ipad, and also see the contact list in my cell phone, albeit with difficulty. i do have alot of "ghosting" or whatever it is called, from illuminated objects such as a street light or big signs at night, i will see a image of the object but in the background. Kind of hard to explain but the dr said it was normal.
FYI that my vision was 20/100, the day after surgery it was 20/30, and this was only a day after my corneas got blasted with a laser. So i and the dr, are happy
Complaints/problems? I hate the contacts and being "laid up" basically all day since surgery blows. I downloaded some audiobooks onto my ipad but the first few days could not even tolerate the screen brightness for more than 3 seconds so i skipped the books. My entertainment was listening to the TV set.
April 12 Update
On April 9 (six days after surgery, counting date of surgery April 3), in the morning, the clinic removed the contacts and it felt great. I should state that at no time, none, did I feel any "pain" (pain as in the feeling when you slam a hammer on your finger, or step on a nail while barefoot, just to clarify "pain") in my eyes during the contact lens period. I did have some "I have an obvious object on my eyeball" but nothing more than that. I have read stories on the internet of "pain" and "Day 3 is unbearable" blah blah but none, zero, of that happened with me. Again, no "pain" in the eye at any time.
My vision is 20/30 right now, however during the day one eye is better than the other, then a few hours later the other eye becomes the better one and the second eye is weaker. At night, I have an extremely hard time reading the little greeen street signs in the local neighborhoods. I was driving with a GPS, it said "Turn left on Maple Street" and I probably said ten different curse words because I couldn't read the signs at night.
Again, it is ???? nine days after surgery so maybe I should be a little more patient.
I am taking PreForte steroid drop 4X a day, one drop each eye (altho it takes about 4 to get one drop in the eye), and lubricating drops every 30 mins per the Dr. Most sites say every hour, so maybe the doctor is building in the human factor and if I miss the half hour, I will hit the hour at least.
I personally still don't feel suitable to fly around the skies, but it doesn't matter since I took some vacation/medical leave anyway and am off.
In about two weeks (letting my eyes further stabilize), my surgeon will be completing the FAA Form 8500-7 (I already pre-briefed him on it, prior to surgery). I also plan to get a "fresh" medical (even tho mine is not due for another 6 months) from the AME.
Looking back, PRK folks should plan, at a minimum, of one week (7 days), of "being hard down" and laid up in a room with the curtains drawn, and spouse/relative/buddy being available to run and get you food, help you get things done, such as put the right eye drops in, etc etc. Also, you need someone to drive you to/from the appointments that week, and I rode as a passenger with dark sunglasses on and a black (looked dorky, yes) wash towel covering my head as I rode in the car.
Thats all for now.
Day of Surgery - April 3 2012/late afternoon
My surgery is/was wavefront custom PRK
My dr used the Allegretto laser, which is reportedly the top machine as of present date. Dr was reportedly (as they all are) the "top" guy in my area. However, research did in fact support his reputation.
Pre surgery, i put myself on a regimen of 1000mg vitamin-c every day, beginning 30 days from surgery. This was due to various articles indicating that vitamin c is shown to reduce the cases of corneal hazing. The dr on requested to begin that regimen one week out, but i figured it was just like eating extra oranges and thus no harm no foul, so i started at 30 days.
After surgery for three days,, i was extremely (as in i almost cry) light sensitive and am wearing the darkest sunglasses the local Bass Pro Shops would sell. I was also issued a pair of basically sunglass version of swimming goggles to sleep in, by the doctor. I have no "pain" per se, just irritation and extremely red eyes since surgery. If a stranger saw me with no sunglasses they would probably think i was a serial killer or mad man, the way my eyes look. But no pain
Three days after surgery, i could type on the ipad, and also see the contact list in my cell phone, albeit with difficulty. i do have alot of "ghosting" or whatever it is called, from illuminated objects such as a street light or big signs at night, i will see a image of the object but in the background. Kind of hard to explain but the dr said it was normal.
FYI that my vision was 20/100, the day after surgery it was 20/30, and this was only a day after my corneas got blasted with a laser. So i and the dr, are happy
Complaints/problems? I hate the contacts and being "laid up" basically all day since surgery blows. I downloaded some audiobooks onto my ipad but the first few days could not even tolerate the screen brightness for more than 3 seconds so i skipped the books. My entertainment was listening to the TV set.
April 12 Update
On April 9 (six days after surgery, counting date of surgery April 3), in the morning, the clinic removed the contacts and it felt great. I should state that at no time, none, did I feel any "pain" (pain as in the feeling when you slam a hammer on your finger, or step on a nail while barefoot, just to clarify "pain") in my eyes during the contact lens period. I did have some "I have an obvious object on my eyeball" but nothing more than that. I have read stories on the internet of "pain" and "Day 3 is unbearable" blah blah but none, zero, of that happened with me. Again, no "pain" in the eye at any time.
My vision is 20/30 right now, however during the day one eye is better than the other, then a few hours later the other eye becomes the better one and the second eye is weaker. At night, I have an extremely hard time reading the little greeen street signs in the local neighborhoods. I was driving with a GPS, it said "Turn left on Maple Street" and I probably said ten different curse words because I couldn't read the signs at night.
Again, it is ???? nine days after surgery so maybe I should be a little more patient.
I am taking PreForte steroid drop 4X a day, one drop each eye (altho it takes about 4 to get one drop in the eye), and lubricating drops every 30 mins per the Dr. Most sites say every hour, so maybe the doctor is building in the human factor and if I miss the half hour, I will hit the hour at least.
I personally still don't feel suitable to fly around the skies, but it doesn't matter since I took some vacation/medical leave anyway and am off.
In about two weeks (letting my eyes further stabilize), my surgeon will be completing the FAA Form 8500-7 (I already pre-briefed him on it, prior to surgery). I also plan to get a "fresh" medical (even tho mine is not due for another 6 months) from the AME.
Looking back, PRK folks should plan, at a minimum, of one week (7 days), of "being hard down" and laid up in a room with the curtains drawn, and spouse/relative/buddy being available to run and get you food, help you get things done, such as put the right eye drops in, etc etc. Also, you need someone to drive you to/from the appointments that week, and I rode as a passenger with dark sunglasses on and a black (looked dorky, yes) wash towel covering my head as I rode in the car.
Thats all for now.