Am I Limited on Activities After LASIK Treatment?
Lasik patients are always worried about activity limitations after Lasik Treatment.
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratectomy) and PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) are minimally invasive procedures that allow patients to gain 20/20 vision without the hindrances of contacts or eyeglasses. However, a common question is how long patients have to wait after surgery to return to their normal activities. Here are some guidelines to follow after your LASIK or PRK surgery.
PRK or Lasik Activity Limitations
Showering
After LASIK, you can shower or bathe as normal, but with a few conditions. When you’re in the shower, try to keep water out of your eyes. While you can take a soft towel and gently dab around your eyes, avoid rubbing them vigorously with a towel or your hands to avoid complications. You should also keep water or soap out of your eyes for up to a week after the procedure.
Showering after PRK follows the same guidelines regarding rubbing or dabbing your eyes to clean them, but most eye doctors also recommend that you wait at least 24 hours after the procedure to bathe.
Watching TV or Using a Computer
For both LASIK and PRK patients, it’s important to eliminate eye strain following the procedure. Therefore, you should avoid watching television, using a computer, playing video games, or reading for up to 24 hours after the surgery.
Working Out
In most cases, LASIK patients can resume jogging and other light cardio activities within 2 to 3 days following the procedure. PRK patients will have to wait a bit longer before cardio and wait for 3 to 5 days before returning to their workout routine.
For patients that lift weights, most doctors recommend that you wait anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks before resuming your workout regimen.
Playing Contact Sports
Contact sports are a cause for concern following PRK or LASIK surgery. If you don’t give your eyes enough time to heal and you play contact sports, you can risk serious complications. Always wait at least 4 weeks to resume playing sports such as soccer, basketball, football, or hockey.
Dr. Alexandra Chebil specializes in custom Lasik procedures tailored to athletes. She has treated many public figures that are active in contact sports and is considered an athlete vision specialist by many. If you’re active and play contact sports, you owe it to yourself to find out if laser vision correction is right for you. Schedule a complimentary one-on-one consultation.
Wearing Makeup
If you wear makeup for work or social occasions, you’ll have to go au naturale for one week following surgery. Makeup can cause infections and complications, so avoid them at all costs. You should also replace your eyeliner, mascara, and eyeshadow as older products could contain bacteria that may harm your eyes.
Driving
Regardless of whether you’re undergoing LASIK or PRK, you should plan to have someone drive you to the procedure. After LASIK, doctors recommend that patients shouldn’t drive for at least 24 hours. In the case of PRK, patients can expect to get behind the wheel after 3 to 5 days.
Swimming
If you’re an avid swimmer, LASIK and PRK will sideline you for a short time. But the Lasik benefits outway the temporary limitations. LASIK patients shouldn’t swim for a week, while PRK patients should wait at least two weeks due to the risk of bacterial infections. In both cases, individuals should wear protective eyewear for a month or so following surgery.
Although LASIK and PRK surgeries may prevent you from doing your normal routine for anywhere from 24 hours to a month, the result is worth it. With 20/20 vision or better and no eyewear, you can enjoy life in crystal-clear clarity with a better quality of life.
At our Orange County Lasik Center Medical Group in Newport Beach, you get to experience the benefits of having an anxiety-free private practice, led by Orange County’s favorite Ophthalmologist, Dr. Alexandra Chebil. She is involved in each treatment from the first visit to long after the treatment is complete. Book your private Lasik consultation today.