The PRK process from start to finish

[Jeff29]

Jeff29, Sorry I don't know all of that information. I will try to get it all on my next check up. Can you give us a bad-case scenario, though?

Bad Case Scenario: 1) Your doc didn't bother to measure your dilated pupils and/or uses a laser that doesn't have a treatment zone large enough to treat your fully dilated pupils. 2) The night vision problems don't go away. 3a) You don't get the waiver. 3b) You get the waiver, the problem never goes away, and you get NPQ'd about halfway through advanced strike (personally, this is my preferred scenario).

Hopefully, this is not the case. If you get me the info I mentioned, I can probably help you out. PM me.

BTW, there aren't really any tests for these problems; it's all subjective.

 

[FLYTPAY]

Hey guys. Good luck in all of your applications. I am a former NFO, back in pilot training thanks to PRK. I had mine in April 2003 and the surgery worked as advertised. Here are my tips and tricks to dealing with the pain and the waiver process. Open your eyes slowly when you wake up. Lubrication is the key to comfort. Dont admit to halos at night to someone who controls your waiver process. (They should clear up after a while but your vision will still get a little blurry due to fatigue) Keep your PRK process well documented and organized. When I left my squadron, the NFOs had better vision than the pilots. (All of us got it done). Again, good luck and FLY NAVY.

 

[Lanisem]

My right is slightly cloudy, my left is clear.

I got PRK done last week, this is day 5 for me, and my right eye is blurry compared to my left also! haha.. I hope I won't need a touch up procedure.. I got my surgury done at TLC Laser eye centers here in La Jolla (CA), and the surgeon that did the procedure is a Naval Flight surgeon that does PRK's for pilots all the time. He even rides in F-18's with the pilots he's worked on..

But one thing I've seen on this thread concerns me: I had my eyes dilated 2 weeks before my surgury by my eye doc, who is working in conjunction with TLC laser center (She reffered me), but I don't think any results from my dilation ever reached the Laser eye center, other than "I'm ok and ready" to have the surgury. Are the results/measurements from the dilation significantly important for the surgury? After the procedure, my doc said that it went perfectly. I hope the uneven blurred vision of my right eye compared to my left doesn't have anything to do with that.. I'm getting my bandage contacts taken out tomorrow (day 6), I'll ask my eye doc then.. I hope 20/20 comes soon and that I won't need any touch-up procedures...

And one more thing.. concerning the waiver process, do I need any forms from recruiters to be filled out concerning post-op check-ups? because I'm have my 1week post op tomorrow..

Thanx everyone

 

[ryanber]

Ok all, I had a checkup this previous Wednesday, which would be about 7 weeks for me (1 month and 3 weeks). My Visual Acuity is as follows...Left=20/20, Right=20/15. I was very surprised to find this out because the last time I had a checkup, which was about 4 weeks ago, both my eyes were about 20/30. I can still tell that my left eye is still a little more blurry than my right. Also, the doc said that I am still slightly Far-Sighted from the surgery. She said that my left is +0.25 and my right is +0.50??? Not really sure how my right diopter can be worse than the left, yet my right VA is better than the left. Weird, huh?

Ok here are some things she told me, also, that might put some of you at ease a little. The drops you use once you get the contact bandage off is called Flarex (if I remember correctly) (I had to get a refill and the actual non-brand medicine name is Fluorometholone) and you have to use it for a LONG time. I read the medical description that came with the drops from the Pharmacy and what I gathered is that it reduces the swelling (since it is a steroid) but does so by slowing down your cell's healing process...Back to the doc, though, lol. She said that usually once you finally get finished taking the of your drops your vision will increase a little. So, all in all, the medicine makes your vision a little (just a little) blurry while you are taking it.

Just don't get discouraged if your vision is 20/25 or somewhere close to 20/20. It WILL get better, it just takes a lot of time for some people, me being one of them.

Lanisem, what I was told is that the surgeon (or TLC) should take the average of your dilated diopter and your non-dilated diopter. I think the reason was because if you are young your eyes can change their shape pretty well to adjust your focus/visual acuity (VA) but your eyes can't do so when they are dilated. So, your true vision of your eyes is the dilated VA.

Lanisem, regarding the forms for postops/checkups...I'm not entirely sure but what I've been told is just to make sure your eye doctor is keeping detailed notes in your file about your various checkups. That should be all that is necessary, as far as I know.

Jeff29, thanks for the Bad-Case-Scenario info.
FLYTPAY, congrats on getting into pilot training. I bet you were excited! What pipeline did you end up selecting?

More info to come on future checkups...

 

[Lanisem]

yea, it turns out my eye doc did send my dilated eye info to TLC =P my eyes are recovering fine, but I RAN OUT OF MY FML (fluorometholone), and I have a week left to use it (reduced from 4 to just 1 drop a day though). Should I but another bottle, with just a week left? FML's primary purpose is to ease inflammation.. I don't think it'll be detrimental to my recovery if I just stop now, I mean I just have a week left and inflammation seems to be more of a comfort issue to me. I'm also on restasis, to help me produce more of my own tears (eyes are hella dry in the morning).

Ryanber-thanx for the info, i'll make sure my recruiter gets all the info on my op.

 

[SkywardET]

yea, it turns out my eye doc did send my dilated eye info to TLC =P my eyes are recovering fine, but I RAN OUT OF MY FML (fluorometholone), and I have a week left to use it (reduced from 4 to just 1 drop a day though). Should I but another bottle, with just a week left? FML's primary purpose is to ease inflammation.. I don't think it'll be detrimental to my recovery if I just stop now, I mean I just have a week left and inflammation seems to be more of a comfort issue to me. I'm also on restasis, to help me produce more of my own tears (eyes are hella dry in the morning).

Ryanber-thanx for the info, i'll make sure my recruiter gets all the info on my op.

Given the caveat that I'm no doctor, my advice would be to get the FML unless it's really, really expensive. My PRK was paid for in full by the Navy, so I don't know the costs asociated with the drops.

In general I wouldn't do anything other than follow the doctor's advice on this matter. It's important to you twofold; it's your eyesight and it's part of the medical qualification for being a pilot.

 

[Lanisem]

I just came from 6 week post op now.. FML was no biggie. Just found out both eyes are 20/15... for now.

This might seem off topic, but in terms of physical condition, besides general "good shape", what kinds of exercises can I do to imrove my physical capacity to handle G's in an aircraft? like i know to keep more blood in your upper body, you tense up your legs to provide pressure for the blood to go up to your head.. so for example, would it help if I did a lot of squats?

I'm just trying to get an Idea of how I can Train my body as to minimize the stresses of training later =)

 

[MasterBates]

You won't be pulling much G in helos or P3.

4.5 max in the -34. If my ass can do it, you dont need to train for it. Just be in good shape.

 

[FLY_USMC]

I had PRK done in 2002 pretty much as soon as I heard the Navy and Marine Corps were taking waivers. You'll be surprised as you progress through flight school how many other studs had PRK as well, it's pretty amazing. I'm 20/20 both eyes, have like a .25 prescription in one of my eyes, but the doc has told me you could actually be like 1.00 and still have 20/20, but I see fine. About once or twice a month I'll wake up in the morning and know I need to rub my eyes before I open them, because they'll be REALLY REALLY dry and the air will kill me, other than that, I'm 100% thankful I got PRK and concur that your vision will change for the first year, fluctuating here and there. I would've never been able to fly in the military or get where I am today without it, childhood dream that I thought would never come.

 

[dsevo]

So, if I'm considering joining the Navy after I graduate in December, I need to start looking into getting PRK surgery now? Would I just go to a recruiting office to get the exact details on what I need to do, and how it needs to be documented?

I have no problem scheduling a surgery and paying for it, I just want to make sure the documentation is all correct so I don't screw myself. Where did you look to get all of your information mxracer19? Thanks.

 

[Vegas]

So, if I'm considering joining the Navy after I graduate in December, I need to start looking into getting PRK surgery now? Would I just go to a recruiting office to get the exact details on what I need to do, and how it needs to be documented?

I have no problem scheduling a surgery and paying for it, I just want to make sure the documentation is all correct so I don't screw myself. Where did you look to get all of your information mxracer19? Thanks.

you can start looking into it now but FIRST check with your recruiter (is he exclusively an officer recruiter?) he should know everything you need to do. As a general rule though ALWAYS talk to your recruiter first before doing things esspecialy things like eye surgery, if you can get the surgery done now though it will put you ahead.

 

[dsevo]

you can start looking into it now but FIRST check with your recruiter (is he exclusively an officer recruiter?) he should know everything you need to do. As a general rule though ALWAYS talk to your recruiter first before doing things esspecialy things like eye surgery, if you can get the surgery done now though it will put you ahead.

Thanks for the reply. My dad's friend from the airlines is also an officer recruiter, so I'll tak to him. I'm sure he can point me in the right direction. I definitely would rather pay for the surgery myself so that I'm good to go physical wise when I sign on the dotted line.

 

[Flyer09]

Wonderful information guys! I go in tomorrow for my PRK procedure and will post back with my results and experiences!

 

[navywareagle]

wow. you typed that the same day you had PRK. I couldn't see squat the day I had mine.

For those thinking about PRK, do it! It's the best investment that you'll ever make.

 

[JSF_Dreamer]

wow. you typed that the same day you had PRK. I couldn't see squat the day I had mine.

For those thinking about PRK, do it! It's the best investment that you'll ever make.

+1


I had worse than 20/400 in BOTH eyes. Now 20/20 and 20/15

Dr. McKnight at Center for Sight in Pensacola did mine.