PRK Day 3: The Turning Point for Most People

Day 3 is usually where things start to break. StatPearls says most patients achieve full epithelialization by postoperative day 3, with complete healing typically inside 3 to 7 days. As the two edges of new cells meet in the center, the nerve endings get covered again and the pain drops off, sometimes over just a few hours.

Not everyone turns the corner today. EyeWiki puts peak discomfort at days 2 to 3 with significant improvement by days 4 to 5, so if today is still rough you are inside the normal range. What is not normal is pain that is clearly getting worse rather than better. StatPearls notes that infection after PRK, while very rare, typically shows up on postoperative days 2 to 4, so worsening pain, new redness, or discharge at this point is a reason to call rather than wait.

Vision usually starts to improve now. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says vision gradually improves over about 3 to 5 days after PRK. Improvement at this stage means less fog, not sharp vision.