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Nugget61's PRK Process

theblakeness

Charlie dont surf!
pilot
Do still have ghosting when I get tired as well as a decrease in acuity. Does this go away with time or will the vision always deteriorate with exhaustion? (And its not bad, like going from 20/30 to 20/50 when I'm tired).


I had the same thing and from what my doc told me, its totally normal. It will go away
 

DavidC

New Member
Just had mine this morning, Very easy procedure. No pain so far today, just a little bit of eye itch. I slept for a good seven hours after the operation.

Doc said the operation went perfectly. My distant vision is already much better. I was around 20/50 and 20/80 before. Near vision is a little worse, but I can read fine at normal distances.

Hopefully tomorrow won't be too bad.
 

nugget61

Active Member
pilot
Just had mine this morning, Very easy procedure. No pain so far today, just a little bit of eye itch. I slept for a good seven hours after the operation.

Doc said the operation went perfectly. My distant vision is already much better. I was around 20/50 and 20/80 before. Near vision is a little worse, but I can read fine at normal distances.

Hopefully tomorrow won't be too bad.

Congrats dude. They're having you sleep while wearing the protective glasses, right? If not, I'd recommend it, at least while you're wearing the contacts - they'll keep you from messing with them in your sleep.
Also, keep some of the rewetting drops next to your bed - not fun when you need em and have to stumble around to the bathroom in the dark. And be ready to put them in before your eyes are open tomorrow morning.

Junk, how'd your visit go?
 

nugget61

Active Member
pilot
Day 14:
Well, most of the day is fine, but I should make note that whenever it gets late (not tired mind you as I'm a night owl, but just later in the day) my right eye (orig 20/100) seems to go back to pre-op state, while the lefty isn't falling so far behind. Also about this time of day, near vision ghosting becomes a PITA - distance is fine, but I've got rather irritating ghosting when I'm reading the monitor. Not too concerned about it as most patients seem to have this at one point or another, just rather surprised that everything's not symmetrical/even L/R, near/far.
 

theblakeness

Charlie dont surf!
pilot
Congrats dude. They're having you sleep while wearing the protective glasses, right? If not, I'd recommend it, at least while you're wearing the contacts - they'll keep you from messing with them in your sleep.
Also, keep some of the rewetting drops next to your bed - not fun when you need em and have to stumble around to the bathroom in the dark. And be ready to put them in before your eyes are open tomorrow morning.

Junk, how'd your visit go?


I agree about the protective glasses. My Doc told me that it wasnt a must to wear like the LASIK guys, but he still reccommended it while the contacts are in. I did and it really wasnt a problem to sleep with.
 

McBuff

Sees the light
I just submitted my paperwork for the waiver but had a bitch of a time getting the operative report. I got the pre-op and post-op writeups and was told by the eye-candy assistant "sorry thats everything we have". So after about two hours of pure panic, several increasingly agitated phone calls etc, they finally told me that the report was being mailed to me from the surgery center.

The reason I tell you this is because it might be in your guys' best interest to ask for it now. It's actually an interesting read anyway. Good luck.
 

theblakeness

Charlie dont surf!
pilot
I just submitted my paperwork for the waiver but had a bitch of a time getting the operative report. I got the pre-op and post-op writeups and was told by the eye-candy assistant "sorry thats everything we have". So after about two hours of pure panic, several increasingly agitated phone calls etc, they finally told me that the report was being mailed to me from the surgery center.

The reason I tell you this is because it might be in your guys' best interest to ask for it now. It's actually an interesting read anyway. Good luck.

yeah, the operative report is essentially the wavefront guided report used by the computer during the process. When I went to collect my paperwork, my OSO gave me a "sample" (basically a medical paperwork with all the personal information removed) to show the doc and his team exactly what I needed. It took a while in the office to get everything photocopied but it was essentially painless. Just explain to them exactly what its for and explain how important it is that you get it.

Good luck!
 

Junkball

"I believe in ammunition"
pilot
Congrats dude. They're having you sleep while wearing the protective glasses, right? If not, I'd recommend it, at least while you're wearing the contacts - they'll keep you from messing with them in your sleep.
Also, keep some of the rewetting drops next to your bed - not fun when you need em and have to stumble around to the bathroom in the dark. And be ready to put them in before your eyes are open tomorrow morning.

Junk, how'd your visit go?

Consult went well, scheduled surgery for 19 DEC. Cheap, too. See my thread... maybe I'll keep a running journal on my condition.

I'm hoping to finish up my instrument rating before the surgery here... otherwise it looks like I'll be grounded for another 3-4 weeks.
So how's the VA after 2.5 weeks - cleared to drive yet? Your posting is going to make my healing process easier, I think.
 

nugget61

Active Member
pilot
Day 20:
Had my 3-week post op check yesterday. I currently have 20/30 (-1) in each eye individually and 20/25 (-2) combined. I still find it awesome that I was 20/100 and 20/70, look at some photons for ~8 seconds and now I can see as well as I do.
Anyway, Dr P said that he didn't expect my vision to fully stabilize for another month or so(when I finish with the FML (steroid) treatments). He did reduce me to 3 drops a day of FML from 4, and is stepping down the dosages for the next 3 weeks till I'm done with it. He says that I should see 20/20 or at worst 20/25 then based upon my slit lamp results (he could still see a lot of the healing cells).

And I was driving within 5 days post op, day and night no problems, so I'm fine now and I imagine that you'd be able to fly too (unless its really bright from snow or something, that could suck).
 

nugget61

Active Member
pilot
Day 30:
Vision is still improving, albiet slower than the first few weeks (as expected). I don't have access to a chart, however I can read the fine print on the TV now when I could just barely read it before with my glasses (the glasses got me 20/20), so I would say I'm in the ballpark of 20/25 each eye.
Also, usage of the wetting drops has fallen off a lot. While some days are particularly dry for me, I mostly only use them now before I take the FML (as I was told to do by Dr P).
I have noticed now that when I stare at far away lights that they twinkle like stars do, however this doesn't happen with up close lights. Not worried about it in the slightest, especially considering how much effort it took to notice the issue.
Ghosting/double vision/whatever it was when I was tired doesn't seem to happen anymore, so that's promising.
 

nugget61

Active Member
pilot
Day 52:
Feels like long term updates already. I think my vision has stabilized, but only a doc could tell me for sure. I know that I'm happy with what I can see now, but I don't know if it's 20/20 or not and won't be in to see Dr. P until my 3 month checkup in mid Feb. Still taking the FML, down to one drop a day now and taking rewetting drops as needed (usually 1-2 times per day).

I do have some questions for yall. First, is this the only form that I have to fill out to be submitted with all of my doc's info: (PDF Link)
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/navme...Corneal Refractive Surgery Template FINAL.pdf

I think it's what I need but I'm not 100%. Any other Navy paperwork that I'll have to turn in?
Second, whats this with MEPS that I hear they want a 6 month post op to pass you but NAMI only require 3 months (for my correction) for a waiver? Can MEPS still pass me if I'm less than 6 months and my waiver is underway/complete? If not then that will hold up my BDCP benefits... at this point that doesn't bother me so much as the fact that I'm going to graduate in 6 months and have no concrete job lined up.
Thanks everyone.
 

theblakeness

Charlie dont surf!
pilot
Day 52:
Feels like long term updates already. I think my vision has stabilized, but only a doc could tell me for sure. I know that I'm happy with what I can see now, but I don't know if it's 20/20 or not and won't be in to see Dr. P until my 3 month checkup in mid Feb. Still taking the FML, down to one drop a day now and taking rewetting drops as needed (usually 1-2 times per day).

I do have some questions for yall. First, is this the only form that I have to fill out to be submitted with all of my doc's info: (PDF Link)
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/navme...Corneal Refractive Surgery Template FINAL.pdf

I think it's what I need but I'm not 100%. Any other Navy paperwork that I'll have to turn in?
Second, whats this with MEPS that I hear they want a 6 month post op to pass you but NAMI only require 3 months (for my correction) for a waiver? Can MEPS still pass me if I'm less than 6 months and my waiver is underway/complete? If not then that will hold up my BDCP benefits... at this point that doesn't bother me so much as the fact that I'm going to graduate in 6 months and have no concrete job lined up.
Thanks everyone.

I didnt have to fill that form out. The form I did was much simpler, and my Doc did it. It just required my preop manifest, two post ops (1 month and 3 months), and my final uncorrected and best corrected vision. I got the form from my OSO.

The Docs in Pensacola wanted to see all the med docs your doctor had, but they were MOST insterested in the computerized operative report, which is a print out from the wavefront machine. In fact, thats the only form that the Opthamologist in Pensacola even looked at, and he mentioned that its what they most like to see.

As far as the 3-6 months deal, im not really sure since I went in for my flight phys at a year post op. I do seem to remember BUMED only wanting to clear me after 6 months but im not sure.


Good luck.
 

nugget61

Active Member
pilot
I didnt have to fill that form out. The form I did was much simpler, and my Doc did it. It just required my preop manifest, two post ops (1 month and 3 months), and my final uncorrected and best corrected vision. I got the form from my OSO.

The Docs in Pensacola wanted to see all the med docs your doctor had, but they were MOST insterested in the computerized operative report, which is a print out from the wavefront machine. In fact, thats the only form that the Opthamologist in Pensacola even looked at, and he mentioned that its what they most like to see.

As far as the 3-6 months deal, im not really sure since I went in for my flight phys at a year post op. I do seem to remember BUMED only wanting to clear me after 6 months but im not sure.

Good luck.

Well my OR hasn't had anyone get PRK done so I'm trying to make sure I have all of the right paperwork so I can get the waiver approved in one try. Anyone have a blank copy of the form required?
I do have a copy of the printout - like all 20 pages of it and a copy of the 1 monther, so I guess I'll only need that form and the 3month info.
Can anyone weigh in on whether they had trouble at MEPS when they were 3-6 months post op?
 

exo

Member
AS far as my surgery goes... I didn't have any specific paperwork to fill out. I simply gave all my pre and post op eye information to my OR and he made it happen. Also, when I was applying to the position, I was about 8-9 months post-op so those time limits did not concern me.
Sorry if that didn't help much. I'd recommend calling physical qualifications department at NAMI and see if they can answer that for you. It's hard to get in touch with someone but once you do they'll help you out.

You can find the number here:

http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/navmedmpte/nomi/nami/arwg/Pages/default.aspx
 

nugget61

Active Member
pilot
Thanks exo, that actually helps - the less paperwork that my civilian eye doc has to deal with the better.
As for MEPS, I'm concerned with the scuttlebutt that I've read on here, I guess I'll have to find out when I go again in about a month.
 
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