LRI

[gigisunflower]

This past December I had cataract surgery. I am in my forties. I had to have ICL removed, cataract removed, cataract lenses (multi) put in, and I had LRI done to improve astigmatism.  Three months have passed, and the doctor is not satisfied with where my vision is due to the astigmatism. My left eye (which use to be the stronger of the two) is 2.5 off, and the right eye 1.5 off.. (I have not had to use reading glasses since the December surgery) My eye surgeon wants to do PRK on me. But I read about the pain and long recovery for that, and i don't see it as viable for me, for such a small correction. He is willing to do some more LRI on me, and wants to do both eyes on the same day.My recovery for the December cataract surgery (with LRI done then too) was fine. I was back to work the next day and driving, with vision getting better every day, week. However, I had the eyes done one week apart then. What can I expect for recovery time with this second round of LRI? They said I could drive myself home. And if I am not wearing glasses now, for anything, would I be increasing my chances of that changing if I do more LRI?  Is there any risks I should know of with doing more LRI? Should I do the eyes on separate dates?

[JohnHaganMD]

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[JohnHaganMD]

It varies from surgeon to surgery and patient to patient. Some would even do at the same time, other surgeons would be appalled at even considering that.

[gigisunflower]

Question: How soon after a first LRI procedure can a second one be safely performed?

[gigisunflower]

Well I don't use glasses at all now. For anything. 12 years ago I went from soft contact lenses (that never fully corrected my astigmatism) to ICL for nearsightedness with astigmatism (I was the last patient in a clinical study for it). I need reading glasses right away after, but only for reading. I was under 40. Over the years, as I aged, I needed higher and higher levels of readers...and the past two years prior to cataract surgery I was using them for everything..,..and they barely helped with reading. That's when I was told I needed cataract surgery. I got the high level (correct everything, but astigmatism) put in, and the doctor removed the ICL, removed the cataract, did the LRI for astigmatism, and put the cataract lense in. I stopped using reaading glasses, for anything, immediately after the first eye was done. My right eye is only 1.5 off, and doesn't bother me. The left one, at 2.5 is a little annoying. QUESTION: How soon can a second LRI procedure be done after a first one?

[JohnHaganMD]

You have answered your own question. If you are satsified with your vision and/or if glasses make your vision good to great and you are willing to wear glasses then why take the time, risk, expense, loss of income, etc.

JCH MD

[gigisunflower]

And yes, after both cataract surgeries (this past December) and both ICL implants (12 years ago) I went back to work the next day. (In fact, after both cataract surgeries I had to go to school performance of my daughter's a her school...four hours both times, after the surgeries) So I am capable of making the best of it, but I did not both eyes done at the same time. But PRk surgery is NOT like implants.....not even like LASIK recovery either. I just can't go days and weeks and months with hazy, cloudy, double vision, burning, etc. eyes. Why go through that to fix a 2.5 and 1.5 astigmatism? When everything else is fine?

[gigisunflower]

I was mislead, being told I would be fine after two days recovery time. I was suppose to have PRK done on BOTH eyes this Friday, and they knew I had to drive myself around over the weekend (single mom) and be back at work on Monday,as a teacher. Good thing I read about others experience on line, so I know that this was totally UNREALISTIC of them to tell me. They acted like my vision would be perfectly fine after a few days.....not weeks and months, not to mention I was told I would only have 'slight discomfort'. I am seeing fine without any type of glasses....with just a slight issue with the left eye (due to the astigmatism). Why would I go through irreversible procedure to my eyes....for just slight astigmatism correction? There is a difference between going back to work and trying to function (like enlarging computer screen to 200 zoom to see it?) and going back to work with truly functional vision. Did anyone who went 'back to work a few days later' go back to teaching a classroom of students?  Now my Dr won't do the additional LRI this Friday.....he wants the eyes to heal more time from the last LRI incisions.....which were done almost four months ago. So my  question is this.,,,,How long should eyes recover for, between LRI procedures?

[chazas]

I went back to work as a corporate lawyer (drafting documents on computer, etc.) - no quotation marks around "back to work" - the second day after PRK (and my other surgeries), but they were only on one eye.  I agree, I can't imagine doing it with both eyes at the same time.  I think that assuring someone they'd have functional vision after doing that is misleading.  I would have had to take at least a couple of weeks off.  PRK was exceedingly painful the first night, unpleasant the day after, and after that there was just mild discomfort.  But the result was well worth it.  

[JohnHaganMD]

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[JohnHaganMD]

In our practice patients have PRK are typically back at work 3 to 7 days after surgery. Six weeks it not the modern standard.

JCH MD

[JohnHaganMD]

I am not a big fan of limbal relaxing incisions as I feel they are less controlled than laser surgery (lasik, femtosecond laser). The more that are done the less predictable they are. PRK need not be slow healing or uncomfortable with bandage contact lens and topical antiinflammatory eye drops.

JCH MD

[gigisunflower]

Six weeks to six months recovery time, to me, is unreasonable and not feasible for me

[chazas]

Get the PRK, one eye at a time. It isn't pleasant but it works. I had it on my left eye to correct significant residual refractive error and astigmatism, and 6 weeks in I'm seeing great.

[gigisunflower]

I am a single mother and a teacher. I don't have six weeks to 'adjust' my eyesight

[chazas]

One eye at a time, you do. I urge you to think longer term.

[chazas]

I have had three major procedures on my left eye in the past year - an emergency vitrectomy with scleral buckle, a combined vitrectomy-ERM peel-iol implantation, and PRK.  In each case I was able to be back at most of my major life activities (including working until all hours, I have a very stressful career) within a couple of days. You have to make the decision that is right for you, but I urge you to take care of your vision the best way possible. Good luck.