vision correction needed after PRK??

Hi. I had PRK about 8 years ago. I was extremely near-sighted with thin corneas; that's why I had PRK and not LASIK. Surgery was done by one of the best-Dr. Marguerite McDonald-and it went great! Results were better than 20/20. I noticed that car lights had a bit more halo in my right eye than left and I thought maybe b/c eye was a little dry. I always use Refresh- I have ever since the surgery. Anyway, extra glare is still there but isn't extreme.  Real problem is that I'm now 45 and noticed that my right eye has trouble seeing "distance", like street signs and esp. at night or white letters on light backgrounds. It has no trouble with reading. Contrastly, my left eye may need reading glasses soon but it's not quite there yet. But it has no trouble with "distance" seeing. My questions are:  Should I be myopic again in right eye? I thought the PRK would last forever except maybe for reading glasses.  Am I "straining" my left eye b/c it's really doing the distance seeing?  What are my options regarding vision correction for the right eye?  Dr. McDonald relocated after Hurricane Katrina so I can't ask her; I truly wish she were still here.  Misc. info- I have many floaters and have been examined by opth. extensively but have no retinal tear/detachmts. I do have a small area of lattice degeneration that they monitor at my exams. I have ocular hypertension but not glaucoma; visual fields are normal. Was getting fields done every six months but after one year of this, he said I only need to do it yearly. Last exam/field test done 7 months ago. Thanks so much for your help.  Ellen

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear Ellen12,

It sounds as if you might have had a little regression in the right eye.  As you noticed, this actually results in a benefit and enables better reading and is known as monovision.  I would recommend that you seek the care of an eyeMD to determine the prescription and its regression or progression.  There can be small changes over time as the aging process still continues.  I would definitely continue to have the retina examined and the visual fields and examination for glaucoma every four to six months.  You might want to seek the care of an eyeMD specializing in glaucoma as well.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California