How Long Does It Take To Recover From PRK Surgery

Refractive errors develop when the light is unable to focus directly on the retina due to the change in the shape of the cornea, eyeball, or lens. This causes image distortion, leading to blurry vision, problems focusing on objects, headaches, double vision, tiredness in the eye, irritation, dry eyes, and difficulty adjusting to bright lights (seeing halos around bright lights). Photorefractive Keratectomy, popularly known as PRK, is a type of laser surgery that treats refractive vision problems like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (inability of the eye to focus and see near objects) and astigmatism (an imperfection in the curvature of your eye’s cornea or lens).

Your eye surgeon would have recommended PRK for your vision correction, and naturally, you would want to understand the details of the postoperative care that should be taken for early recovery. In this article, we will discuss the timelines of the recovery process after a PRK surgery.

Immediately After PRK Surgery (Day 1)

Right after the surgery, you will be made to wait in the observation area and will be monitored for any side effects that may arise due to surgery. Once you have stabilized after 1 hour), you will be allowed to go home. 

• You should arrange for a family member to drive you home on the day of the surgery and to escort to the hospital the next day1 of follow-up.
• You will experience some discomfort in your eyes after surgery when the effect of anesthetic eyedrops wears off. It is advisable to take a nap when you reach home – this will relieve the discomfort, and you would wake up fresh from the groggy and drowsy feeling of anesthesia given during surgery. Also, keeping your eyes closed will keep your eyes lubricated, thus preventing dry eyes from developing.

• Your surgeon will prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops for infection and swelling that may develop after the procedure. The swelling and inflammation will subside after a few days. 
• Pain medications will also be prescribed to relieve the pain if it occurs.
•  Your surgeon will give you lubricating eye drops (to induce tears) to prevent dry eyes as it may cause the cornea to return to its original shape before surgery.
• Your surgeon will give you eyeshields to be worn while sleeping to prevent you from accidentally rubbing your eyes during sleep.
• Your surgeon will also give instructions on taking care of the eyes for the first 24 hours for better healing.
  • You should not splash water directly on the eyes- Tap water has bacteria and other microorganisms in it, which can lead to irritation and infections in the eye. 
  • You should not rub or touch your eyes- Rubbing or touching your eyes can displace the contact lens that acts as a bandage. This will put you at risk of re-surgery. 
  • You should refrain from straining your eyes- You should avoid watching TV, mobile, computers, reading books, etc., for the first 24 hours after surgery as it may lead to tiredness and cause dry eyes. Resting your eyes in this phase will promote healing.
  • You must not remove your bandage- After your surgery, contact lenses are put in your eyes, which act as a bandage to prevent any dirt or harmful substances from irritating the eye. You should not remove the contact lenses by yourself at home. Your surgeon will remove them 4 to 5 days later (during the follow-up visit).

Day 2- 4 After PRK Surgery

You may need a follow-up visit with your surgeon in the hospital. Your surgeon will examine the eye and the recovery. Make sure that a family member takes you and accompanies you back from the hospital.

• The second and the third days are the most uncomfortable as you may experience:
  • Watering in the eyes
  • Sensitivity to bright light (halos around the light)
  • Blurry vision
  • Dryness in the eyes
  • Irritation and itching in the eyes 
  • Pain in the eyes
  • A sensation of a foreign object/ substance in the eye

 You should not worry and use the anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops that your surgeon has prescribed for relief. You can also take painkillers to relieve the pain. These symptoms will subside by the fourth day. If the symptoms do not subside by the 4th day or keep getting worse, it is important to contact your surgeon immediately.

• You should continue wearing the contact lens as bandages to protect your cornea from infections. This facilitates the healing process.
• You can shower 24 hours after the surgery but make sure soap and water do not enter your eyes as it can cause redness, irritation, and infection.
• You should avoid using makeup and skin creams, especially around the eyes, for 7 days after surgery as they may contain chemicals that can harm your already sensitive eyes. These chemicals can get into your eys and cause infection, irritation and inflammation of the eyes.
• You should not drive for at least 7 days after surgery. Your surgeon will inform you when to resume driving. Driving can cause stress on the eyes, which may hamper the recovery process.
• You should not exercise during this period as sweat from exercising may cause irritation in the eye and affect the healing.
• You should not wash your face directly with soap or water as tap water has bacteria and other microorganisms, which can lead to irritation and eye infections. 

Day 5 After PRK Surgery

This is when most of the discomfort would have disappeared, and you will have the next follow-up visit with your surgeon.

• Your surgeon will remove the bandage (contact lenses) put on during the surgery. The surgeon will check your eyes and the healing of the cornea. Once the contact lenses are removed, you will notice a marked improvement in your vision as compared to Day 1 post-surgery.
• You should avoid swimming, hot tub baths, and sauna baths for 2 weeks as steam and water can get into your eyes and cause infections. Swimming after 2 weeks should only be done after your surgeon’s advice, and goggles should be used.
• You must refrain from rigorous workouts and high-intensity exercises for the next few days after surgery, as sweat from exercising may cause irritation in the eye.
• You should avoid going to places with dust, dirt, and smoke, as these can enter your eyes and cause dryness, inflammation, and eye infection.
• You can watch TV, computer, or mobile and read books but only for shorter intervals as this will cause strain on the eyes.Give rest to your eyes as it will facilitate in healing.
• You must keep wearing your eyeshields during sleeping as they will prevent you from accidentally rubbing your eyes during sleep.
• You should avoid bright lights, including sunlight and bright white lights. Your eyes, after surgery, are already sensitive to lights, and going out in bright lights will add to the discomfort. You must wear sunglasses while going out to block the light from entering the eyes.

Week 1- 4 After PRK Surgery

Your eyes are healing, and you will be happy as your vision keeps improving. You can do your normal daily routine without difficulties but make sure that no dust or harmful particles should enter your eye. If you are still experiencing discomfort and other side effects after a week or 10 days of surgery, then consult your surgeon for help.

• You can return to your job and can even drive to work. It is advised not to resume night driving as glare, halos, and difficulty seeing at night may be present for a month post-surgery.
• You must avoid high-impact sports like football, wrestling, etc., as they may cause damage to the eyes and put you at risk for re-surgery.
• You should not get your hair washed, styled, or colored during this period as your eyes are still sensitive to foreign substances.
• You should also avoid swimming, hot tub baths, and sauna baths for the next 2 more weeks as they can put you at risk of getting chemicals in your eyes, leading to corneal damage.
• Your doctor will also advise you against activities that can get dust particles in your eyes (gardening, cleaning the house, dusting, etc.). This may hamper recovery.

Week 4- 6 After PRK Surgery

By this time, your vision would have improved, and you would be advised to continue using the prescribed eyedrops to reduce the blurring of vision. There will be reduced glare, light sensitivity, and halos’ disappearance. You would be able to drive at night without any problems with vision.

You will feel your eyes becoming dry during this period; hence it is advisable to use lubricating eyedrops as prescribed by your surgeon. During the follow-up visit, your surgeon will advise you on the further course of treatment based on your recovery progress.

Month 3-6 After PRK Surgery

By this time, your vision would have recovered fully. You would have also met with your surgeon for recovery progress multiple times and be free of any side effects that were initially present. There will be no restrictions on your routine chores like swimming, exercising, having a sauna bath, high-intensity sports, etc., bit these should be entertained while keeping in mind to protect your cornea from getting damaged.. Studies have shown that 9 out of 10 people undergoing PRK surgery have 20/20 vision without glasses 6 months after surgery.

1 Year After PRK Surgery

After a year of PRK surgery, you will live a good quality of life. The only precaution you should take is to always wear your sunglasses while going out in the sun. on a very bright and sunny day, you may need to wear antiglare sunglasses to protect your cornea. You may also require to wear antiglare glasses if your work involves being on the computer screen for a long time. Overall, there is nothing to be worried about as you would have recovered completely.

PRK surgery is a safe and effective procedure that can improve your vision. It usually takes around 3 to 6 months for complete recovery after PRK surgery Our surgeons at Medfin are available to provide you with expert guidance on the PRK surgery and its outcomes. Reach out to us now!