Day 19

I'm a little fussy today because the light sensitivity isnt miraculously gone. I really had to be kidding myself inking it would be gone today. I did four rounds of steroids today, to which each time I used them they did help. After an hour and a half or so, I did notice sensitivity returning. Throughout the day I found myself wearing my sunglasses indoors, not able to see the tv head on, and really wanting to use the drops. Which I didn't until it was time to. I will say that the sensitivity is not as bad as it was prior to the steroids so I am hoping that counts for something. Tomorrow I go down to two drops a day. I hope it helps because getting to each next dose of drops felt like forever.

Distance wise, together, my eyes are working. Close up isn't too bad with my left eye and I was able to read some school papers that my son brought home. I couldn't read small print on my pasta box or see the buttons well on our new house phones that arrived today. My right eye is terrible ghosting (doubled). Sometimes it makes me feel a little dizzy and I find myself squinting it to stop the blurs.

I see big halos around lights at night, head lights are super light sensitive to me, and I also get some starbursting of lights too, kind of like when the light is pulled outward in streaks. I have no idea what night driving will be like. It's been almost 3 weeks since post op and I still cannot take myself places. I'm so frustrated by this and am trying not to pull me down. It's weighing on hubby to have to take care of things that I can't, and I feel helpless because there's nothing I can do to change it. :(. He runs a business and has been pulled home a lot. I have friends picking me up things from the store and taking me to the store. I am feeling terrible for asking for so much.

I can somewhat watch tv with sunglasses on and I can function witn the house. I am even getting out to exercise some days which helps me be around friends and get some happy energy back. My Zumba instructor has been picking me up every morning so I can get out to be active and my wonderful friend (also had prk same day) has been driving in the evenings. I'm not sure how I can thank them for this!

I don't know how I feel about my surgery today. I am tired of thinking, talking, and worrying about my eyes. I really really just need this sensitivity to go away so I can function like I was before. It takes everything in me to not cry nowadays for whatever reason because I find the aftermath of it makes my eyes hurt. Wish me luck tomorrow.

Day 18

:)

Had my appointment this morning and sure enough I have inflammation and needed a good round of steroids. I'm taking every pred forte every 2 hours for today, every 4 hours tomorrow, and then twice a day for a week. No signs of infection and my eyes are healing very well.

Throughout the day the sensitivity has gotten better and better. I did have sensitivity after Zumba tonight and that could be from eye sweat or the fans that are constantly running. By the time I got in the house I felt pretty good tonight.

Also I tested at 20/40 for my vision. I think it could have been better had they not been inflamed and half open lol. Anyhow, as the day has gone on my vision has sharpened a lot. It's still doubled in the right eye but much better. I also switched my drops to Systane Uktra in the vials. Those are a little more soothing than the Refresh Plus for Sensitive eyes. My reading seems better but mostly because things are crisper probably due to the steroids. My right eye has improved distance wise and my left seems the same.

I'm very hopeful that things are going to get better. The doctor that I saw today told me to come back in if I was still having sensitivity.

I can watch tv now and looking at screens aren't making me wince. I am really curious to what the morning is going to be like. Pretty awesome.

Day 17 - Post PRK

Sorry I didn't update yesterday. I had a rough sensitivity day so I tried making the most out of it. It was a blinding beautiful sunny snowy day in Michigan...totally not cool for me! However I did get out of the house to see a friend and to the mall to get a good pair of polarized glasses. They are helping with clarity that is for sure. I noticed a slight change in my right eye yesterday, maybe a little sharper where my left got a little more blurry.

My sinuses are a draining crazy mess. It's not a cold but I know it's connected with my eyes. Either from the light sensitivity or someone suggested maybe I have allergies induced from surgery or a sinus infection. I did notice several days ago before this crazy draining started that my cheek bones hurt. I did a round of nasal spray around then before this started. It's been suggested that maybe all I need are cold meds or allergy drops? Hmmm it's definitely got me wondering. It could be coincidental that my allergy/sinus issues started after stopping Lotemax which I was told caused light sensitivity for some people by my doctor.

Typically I don't suffer from allergies, not like this but it somewhat makes sense. My eyelids are swollen and pink and so are my eyes. Curious as to what the doctor has to say. I wonder if he could treat me for a sinus infection to spare me the co-pay and time at my regular doctor. What a nigmare this has been, keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be mending in days!

Day 15 - Post PRK

Today was the same old hiding in my house day. My reading ability is getting worse and I get pain in my eyes from eyestrain rather quickly now. I cannot watch tv, but I can listen to it at least as well to music. I cannot tolerate my computer whatsoever. My husband announced I had over 400 emails to be filtered through. I made it through 10 from standing up and looking downward but it just wasn't working. My phone is more difficult today to read without squinting. I am now having to wear sunglasses to type on the iPad with the brightness at the lowest setting. Thank goodness I don't have a job that I need to go to, even though my husband has to keep taking time from his business to do my home/parental tasks. My son came home in tears today saying he felt sick at school. I asked him why didn't he call and he said, Well you coukdnt drive to come get me! little does he realize we have emergency people for that and that he has a dad. Sigh. This recovery is really something else.

I called my doctor's office to see what they could do for me and they asked me to come in on Monday morning....sigh. I am not sure how I can go another two days of this. At least it is the weekend and my family is home. I will try to be good company for them. I am in tears daily full of frustration. We do have some snow coming so I'm sure my boys will get outside and enjoy it. :) they still need to be kids and get vitamin D. I'm feeling like a vampire..

My eyes are super dry and gritty feeling today. They seem itchy too and I don't know if it's from changing my drops or from the dryness. I could deal with that as long as this light sensitivity wasnt an issue.

I will never take eyesight for granted ever again. I'm going to have a nice glass of my favorite wine....or the entire bottle..ha!

Day 14 - Two Weeks Post PRK

Today was a really dry eye day. I was very light sensitive again and my chances of driving were very slim. I'm pretty sure I have Transient Light Sensitivity from my surgery and I wish I knew when it was going to end. I am managing to get around thanks to a supportive husband and wonderful friends.

I think my right eye may be a little better but I'm not too sure. My left eye seems to be a little worse up close because my cell phone is very hard to read. This morning I decided to change over to the Refresh Optive in the bottle. Where my doctor said it was okay to switch rit after my post op appointment, I wanted to go preservative free as long as I could.

I noticed my eyes felt more comfortable and that I could see a little clearer. I rested my eyes mid day and slept around 30 minutes. When waking up, my eyes weren't nearly as dry as using the Refrsh Plus vials.

I pushed two workouts in today and my friends carted me around. I am planning on calling my doctor tomorrow to ask for some prescription drops to help with dryness. My eyes are severely dry like never before and I'm sure this contributes to my kit sensitivity.

I don't plan on driving tomorrow. If I feel any hint that I can do it, I'll run a small errand.

My eyes tire easy, and my nose runs a lot. My sinuses are cranky that is for sure. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Day 13 - Post PRK

I've had an interesting eye day. Not really an "ah-ha" day but some small changes I've noticed today.

My eyes were light sensitive this morning so that cancelled out my driving attempt. I figured I could try to be productive here at home. I wore my sunglasses in the house all morning and frequently used my rewetting drops. (refresh plus preservative free vials). Today was my first day off of Lotimax as well. Around 2 pm my vision seemed a little sharper and somewhat less sensitive to light. I wasn't holding my breath, but it kept on. I decided maybe it was because of the ending of the steroids. I hopped on the iPad and decided to do some Facebooking. This really tired my eyes out so I rested them for about 30 minutes. It seems that whenever I do this, the strain feels better but the dryness triples and the sensitivity to light returns for several hours (probably from dryness). I managed to make dinner and get ready for mt son's cub scout meeting.

Heading out with my shades on at night was pretty funny. As ironic as it is, vanity took no place tonight. I had no make up on, a hat, and sunglasses were my get up this evening. I did this surgery to rid of facial accessories...ho hum.

The lights in the school were pretty darn bright and I left once to pour more drops in my eyes. They were so incredibly grainy and dry. The pie in the face for popcorn reward came and something about the vapors in the shaving cream helped my eyes water. All the sudden my eyes felt good for the next 30 minutes. I left my glasses on the ride home, head lights bothered me but not near as much on the way there WITH sunglasses on (hubby drove). I have lots of halos around kits a the star bursting is slighter than it was Monday night.

I think I need a couple of hours to adjust to any light when waking up. I am hoping that this is my two step forward day.

My right eye is super blurry in all areas. I'm trying not to be too concerned with this because I have a long way to go. My left eye is really getting clear even with some ghosting. I noticed that I could see lines in the tree bark on the tree many feet outside my window. It didn't last long but I saw it for sure.

I cannot read very well, especially with my right eye being fussy. All screens really bother my eyes with the exception if the iPad when I'm it feeling light sensitive.

I prayed today for healing, patience, and strength to get throu upcoming frustrating days ahead. I Have much to be thankful for and I did choose this optional surgery for myself.

Have a great night!

Day 12 - Post PRK

Last night I went out...definitely halos around the lights and the headlights from other cars really bothered me. Typical for recovery I've read.

This morning I was thankful for melted snow and rain. I still had to wear sunglasses on the way to workout because car headlights still bother me. All light is still bothering me and my ability to see up close is getting worse. I think my left eye is hitting what my right eye did last week and may get worse....who knows! Living my life in blurriest is frustrating. Not being able to drive is frustrating, and not seeing the fine details on anything is beyond frustrating. I really want that "ah ha!" day to arrive. The ghosting of letters has not gotten any better. My left eye also seems gritty and sometimes itchy today.

I'm googling Prk recovery stories and trying to compare notes. I am envious of those who don't have this awful sensitivity to light and can see fairly well.

I understand the process, but I'm super annoyed. At this point in time I am missing my contacts and eye glasses.

Patience schmatience!