PRK surgery doesn't appear to have worked

[Hopey1]

I had PRK 2 months ago on my right eye and my vision is no better than it was before surgery. After my surgery, my eye stayed swollen for about 3 weeks, and my eye pressure became very high. The doctor gave me eye drops to reduce the pressure and MURO eye drops to reduce the swelling and informed me that my eye was healing very slow. At my checkup yesterday, the swelling and pressure were both normal. However, my vision is still blurry. This is actually the third surgery I’ve had on my right eye. I had LASIK in 1998 on both eyes, RK in 1999 on my right eye and now PRK. After the first two surgeries, my vision stayed at 20/20 for several years. After the birth of my second child, I noticed my vision changing and to make a long story short, my vision regressed to 20/80 in my right eye and 20/200 in my left. The doctor wanted to correct my right eye with PRK first, since it is my dominant eye. I’m very discouraged at this point, because it doesn’t appear to have worked. I used all the drops prescribed, I use the tears as needed and still no improvements. I’ve also experienced some pain during the night that I’ve read others have experienced as well. It seems that my eye dries out and “sticks” to my eyelid which causes abrations. Using my “tears” eye drops seems to help this pain. At this point, I’m really regretting having the surgery, because I’m afraid that having three surgeries on one eye cannot be good even though my doctor assures me that he cannot find anything wrong with my eye. Also, I’ve had MRI’s to rule out any tumors that might be causing the vision problems. Has anyone had numerous laser surgeries that didn’t work, or just PRK that didn’t work?  I've also started wondering if my allergy medicine could be causing some of my problems.  I currently take Loratadine (Claritin 10mg) every day, and I've read that some of the rare side affects are blurred vision.  Am I just grasping for straws???

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

-

[Hopey1]

Yes, my vision can be corrected to 20/20 with glasses, so hopefully, I haven't developed any cataract's.  Thanks for your response.

[Hopey1]

Thanks for your response.  I'll probably just give it a little more time and hope for the best.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

-

[reynaldotorres]

are your vision can be corrected to 20/20 with spectacles?  If not, you developed a cataract. This was due to RK. Journal of Medicine blamed RK to induce early cataract.  Have a cataract specialist examned you.  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The Claratin is not a factor. After two procedures especially the RK you cannot expect "routine" healing. You have two choices stick with your surgeon and wait it out or consult another corneal Eye MD.

JCH II MD

[AnnaE]

I am not a doctor. I am very experienced with helping eye patients, including myself. I am a community leader here.

It is OK to examine med side effects. I was once taking xanax for anxiety; then my internist told me that sudafed can make one climb walls.

The doctor will answer you soon.