Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK) is an inflammatory response at the interface of the
Lasik flap. Treatment is commonly steroid eye drops and oral steroids. If disgnosed and treated early, recovery is most likely assured. If DLK persists too long before adequate treatment the cornea may become hazy, which would reduce vision clarity. Your persistent symptoms of DLK are undoubtedly corneal haze due to the inflammatory response or induced myopia (nearsighted, shortsighted) vision due to inflammation. It is highly unlikely that you still have active DLK.
patrickchu wrote:Another symptom after the surgery is that the number and sizes of floater has significantly increased. I am not sure if it has always been like this just that I was not as alert and aware (as the surgeon suggested) or it was induced thought the lasik operation.
Floaters are pieces of membrane of the inner components of the eye that float around in the jelly-like
vitreous that fills the large back chamber of the eye. Floaters are common, however a large or sudden quantity can indicate other eye health issues and should always be reported to your doctor. The process of Lasik includes applying a large amount of pressure to the eye for a short time while the flap is made and this can disturb existing floaters and move them into the line of vision. Also, changes in the optics of the eye as a result of Lasik can make previously ignored floaters much more visible.
There really is no reliably viable treatment for common floaters, however the brain is very good at ignoring such imperfections. An example of this is the optic nerve. Everyone has a very large area without vision that corresponds with where the optic nerve enters the eye, but we don't "see" it because the brain has learned to ignore its presence.
patrickchu wrote:1. With my left eye, it seems that the vision can get clearer after I look at the object and try to focus for sometime (30 to 60 seconds). Does this mean that my ability to focus has decreased? Can I “train” it by covering my right eye? Anything else I can do to accelerate the recovery?
It is not likely that your ability to change focus (accommodation) has lessened, but it undoubtedly has changed the range needed to focus. Read our article about
Lasik and eye strain issues.
patrickchu wrote:2. After DLK recovery, which I hope it will, is there anything I can do to reduce the probability of it reoccurring?
An avoidable cause of late-onset DLK reoccurring is trauma to the eye. Wear protective eye wear and don't get hit upside the head.
patrickchu wrote:3. Could lasik increase floaters and retina problem
It is possible, but not probable. High myopia vision (around over 8.00 diopters) is a risk factor for retina detachment whether you have Lasik or not. A competent Lasik doctor will evaluate the health of the retina of a high myope before recommending surgery.