My PRK Process and Timeline

[SpiderUSMC]

I was 20/25 in both eyes this morning.

Christ you're moving. Hopefully I'll be up there monday.

 

[Jeff29]

I was told during my pre-op checkup that I have size 8 pupils.

If by "8", he meant 8mm, you should probably contact your malpractice attorney soon. Not many lasers can handle an 8mm pupil (Alcon, Bauche and Lomb, and maybe a couple others). There is a reasonable chance that your treatment zone is smaller than your fully dilated pupil. This means that the glare/starbursts will probably not completely go away.

I truly hope this is not the case; it makes flying the ball at night pretty much impossible.

You should try to find out if it is 8mm, and how large your treament zone was. It would also help to know what type of laser was used; you can usually find max treatment zone specifications for different lasers online.

 

[SpiderUSMC]

1 moth and 1 day:

20/25 in both eyes easy. Still haven't got to 20/20 yet. but 20/25 was my corrected vision before the surgery, so fingers are still crossed.

 

[mayoplane]

Not malpractice

If by "8", he meant 8mm, you should probably contact your malpractice attorney soon. Not many lasers can handle an 8mm pupil (Alcon, Bauche and Lomb, and maybe a couple others). There is a reasonable chance that your treatment zone is smaller than your fully dilated pupil. This means that the glare/starbursts will probably not completely go away.

QUOTE]

Thank you for all the updates on your surgery. It is very interesting to read these because I am planning on having LASEK (not Lasik) next week. Wish me luck everyone.

I don't know about calling it 'malpractice'. 8mm, is rather large, and perhaps more likely to have halos, and starbursts in the dark. It's not that the doctor made a mistake.......It's a decision-making-process. Hopefully things will get better as the treatment zone heal better. Another thing you COULD do, is not to dim the cockpit lights too too low, and keep your pupils from getting too large....just a thought.

I will try to put my experience down here. Take care.

 

[ItsTurboTime]

If I remember correctly it was a bausch and lomb. I had it done at a TLC Laser Eye Center, by the same surgeon that operated on Tiger Woods, who some people wait months to get scheduled with. He's regarded to be the best, and TLC has a reputation for turning away anyone who they don't think is an ideal candidate. I appreciate the concern, but I'm not really worried about it being a malpractice situation.

 

[Jeff29]

I don't know about calling it 'malpractice'. 8mm, is rather large, and perhaps more likely to have halos, and starbursts in the dark. It's not that the doctor made a mistake.......It's a decision-making-process. Hopefully things will get better as the treatment zone heal better. Another thing you COULD do, is not to dim the cockpit lights too too low, and keep your pupils from getting too large....just a thought.

If a doc measures your pupils at 8mm and then uses a laser that cannot treat out to 8mm, it's malpractice.

As for not dimming the cockpit lights too low, it might work if you're flying a cessna, but don't count on it working if you plan on flying a tactical jet.

 

[mayoplane]

Oh well

If a doc measures your pupils at 8mm and then uses a laser that cannot treat out to 8mm, it's malpractice.

As for not dimming the cockpit lights too low, it might work if you're flying a cessna, but don't count on it working if you plan on flying a tactical jet.

Hi Jeff. I disagree with you. It's a judgement call, not a malpractice. You are entitled to your own opinion, so there you go.

As for the cockpit lights....once again, just a thought. I don't fly 'cessnas', so I can't speak for them. If the guy feels comfortable with his vision now, let's just leave him alone.

 

[Jeff29]

Hi Jeff. I disagree with you. It's a judgement call, not a malpractice. You are entitled to your own opinion, so there you go.

I don't know what your experience has been in this realm, so let me get this straight. A doc measures your pupils at 8mm, he knows that his laser can only treat 6.5mm. Knowing that over the last 6+ years there have been literally thousands of studies done on the effects of this exact situation (all of which conclude that a patient will almost definitely have night vision problems), he zaps your eyes. If that's a judgement call, that's the last time that doc should be allowed to use his judgement.

As for the cockpit lights....once again, just a thought. I don't fly 'cessnas', so I can't speak for them. If the guy feels comfortable with his vision now, let's just leave him alone.

Leave him alone so that he can get 3/4 of the way through flight school and realize that there is no way in the world he's going to get aboard at night. How about tell him the truth now, so that maybe he can have a chance of getting it fixed before it's too late? I can guarantee that NAMI won't leave him alone.

 

[mayoplane]

Nice guy you are.

I don't know what your experience has been in this realm, so let me get this straight. A doc measures your pupils at 8mm, he knows that his laser can only treat 6.5mm. Knowing that over the last 6+ years there have been literally thousands of studies done on the effects of this exact situation (all of which conclude that a patient will almost definitely have night vision problems), he zaps your eyes. If that's a judgement call, that's the last time that doc should be allowed to use his judgement.

Leave him alone so that he can get 3/4 of the way through flight school and realize that there is no way in the world he's going to get aboard at night. How about tell him the truth now, so that maybe he can have a chance of getting it fixed before it's too late? I can guarantee that NAMI won't leave him alone.

Jeff, I see you enjoy arguing your point. We all got your point, and you don't have to repeat about the pupil size. You make a good lawyer. :icon_tong The guy said, " I am not concerned.". Then let him be. I think you are just so compassionate and can't leave this situation alone. You are just a nice guy. I am done talking about other people's situation. I gotta worry about my own surgery. I am out.

Thanks again for all the stories with surgery.

 

[AV8BQAR]

On Monday, I will be getting my PRK in Camp Lejeune. I am thrilled. Thrilled that I will be rid of my glasses that I have had to suffer through for 3 weeks, since I normally wear contacts. I am so happy, and I am grateful for the positive outlook expressed by most of us here.

 

[AppleCello]

On Monday, I will be getting my PRK in Camp Lejeune. I am thrilled. Thrilled that I will be rid of my glasses that I have had to suffer through for 3 weeks, since I normally wear contacts. I am so happy, and I am grateful for the positive outlook expressed by most of us here.

Why do you have to go for surgery? Wouldn't the contact lens waiver be sufficient?

Im scheduled for PRK a week from today and I'm not sure why a contact lens waiver wouldnt do the trick... thanks for your input.

 

[AppleCello]

Ok, my PRK procedure was pushed back a few weeks because the Doc Scheduled it originally on the week leading up to the the long holiday weekend. With normal, fast-recovery lasik, this would have been ok, but with the post-op examination scheduled needed for PRK, the doc wanted to delay my procedure.

So now im going in on June 6. less than 3 weeks away. not too bad, but i just want to get it OVER with!

 

[AV8BQAR]

I debated the contact lens waiver and decided to take the permanent correction. I was 20/400 in both eyes, right on the upper limit allowed for contact lens correction. I decided that my history of fast-recovery and non-complications surgeries gave me a good chance with the PRK.

By the way, I was 20/15 in both eyes on day 4 after surgery. No dryness, no halos or starbursts. At almost 2 weeks my clarity is back to what I had with contacts, which was 20/10. Since I cannot tolerate pain medication I had 3 painful post-op days, but I think it helped me heal faster because I actually rested and iced on those days.

Now I can look forward to all of my training without having to worry about contacts or glasses. I just high powered 2 aircraft yesterday and never even thought about my eyes. I LOVE IT!!!

 

[AppleCello]

Today is the day... I go in this afternoon to have the PRK done. 6/6/06. maybe my eyes will forever glow red, i dunno...

i will write up my thoughts on the experience later on.

 

[OneOddGuy]

Update:


I'm 20/20 in the left, 20/25 in the right, though it still drops a bit as the day goes on. Still getting better though.