Is blurry vision lasting weeks normal after PRK?

What's normal

PRK vision comes back slowly and that is by design, not by accident. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says vision will be blurry after PRK, will gradually improve over about 3 to 5 days, and may take a month or longer to reach your best result.

The reason is the healing surface. EyeWiki says vision at bandage lens removal, around days 4 to 5, is commonly between 20/30 and 20/50, and that vision improves gradually over roughly weeks 4 to 6 as the ridge where the new cells met in the center smooths out. StatPearls describes continued visual improvement through weeks 1 to 4 and optimal acuity taking several weeks to months.

It is common for PRK patients to feel behind, especially compared to LASIK patients who often see well the next day. The American Academy of Ophthalmology's surface ablation guidance states plainly that visual recovery is faster after LASIK than PRK, while final uncorrected vision is comparable at longer follow up.

Blurriest in the first 3 to 5 days, functional but imperfect at bandage lens removal, much better by weeks 4 to 6, best around 1 to 3 months.

When it stops being normal

Blur that had been improving and then clearly gets worse is different from blur that is slowly lifting. StatPearls describes delayed epithelial healing presenting as persistent blurred vision with an epithelial defect still present by day 4, and describes corneal haze peaking at 1 to 2 months.

Call your surgeon if vision drops noticeably after a period of improvement, if you develop pain along with the blur, if you see discharge, or if the eye becomes very red. Otherwise, blur that is gradually improving over weeks is the expected PRK path, and your follow up visits are where it gets measured.