Day 0: surgery day
Go home with your driver, take the prescribed drops and pain relief on schedule, and rest in a dim room. The numbing wears off within an hour and the eye becomes sore and watery. Cold compresses over closed lids help. Sleep as much as you can.
Days 1 to 3: the hard part
You are examined on day one to check the surface is healing and the bandage lens is in place. Days two and three are typically the most uncomfortable as the epithelium closes across the center of the cornea, which is the most sensitive point. Light sensitivity is marked; screens are difficult; sunglasses indoors are not unusual. Preservative free lubricating drops, the prescribed pain relief and patience are the treatment. This phase is expected and does not mean anything is wrong.
Days 4 to 7: turning the corner
Once the surface has closed, usually by day four or five, the bandage lens is removed at the office and comfort improves within a day. Vision is functional but hazy, like looking through a lightly steamed window, because the new epithelium is not yet smooth. Most patients return to desk work at the end of the first week.
Weeks 2 to 6: clearing
Vision fluctuates through the day and clears week by week as the surface remodels. Most patients meet the legal driving standard by one to two weeks. Steroid drops are tapered over several weeks on the schedule you were given; they protect against haze and must not be stopped early. Sunglasses outdoors are essential during this period and advisable for the first year.
Months 1 to 3: the final result
Sharpness and night vision keep improving. Dryness fades as the corneal nerves recover. By three months the result is judged final for most patients, and any residual prescription would be assessed then. Follow-up visits are usually at one month and three months, then annually.
Activity guide
- Screens: short sessions from day 4 or 5, normal use from about week 2
- Exercise: walking from day 3; gym from week 1 once comfortable; no sweat in the eyes
- Swimming, hot tubs and the ocean: after the surface has healed and your surgeon clears you, usually 2 to 3 weeks
- Eye makeup: after the bandage lens is out and the surface is healed, about 1 week
- Contact sports: 1 month, with protective eyewear; PRK has no flap, which is one reason athletes choose it
When to call
Pain that increases after day three rather than easing, a sudden decrease in vision, thick discharge, or the bandage lens falling out. Call our office at (855) 456-2253.
Is this right for your eyes?
Nothing on this page is a diagnosis. Whether this is the right choice for you is decided by a full examination at one of our 4 offices: Pasadena, Huntington Beach, Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills.
About this content: This page was written with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Bavand Youssefzadeh, DO. It is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace an eye examination. Individual results vary. Read our medical disclaimer.
