Exercising after LASIK

San Francisco, Bay Area & San Jose, California

An advantage of LASIK vision correction is that it lets you live an active, healthy lifestyle without the hassle of glasses and contact lenses. Finally you will be able to exercise easily and focus on your health instead of on your eyewear. After LASIK eye surgery, it is important to slowly and carefully increase levels of exercise and activity. It is critical that activities do not cause trauma to the eye and that you follow a timeline for exercise. If you are interested in LASIK vision correction and live in California, contact the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley today.

Follow a Timeline for Exercise and Activity

Always properly care for your eyes after LASIK vision correction by following post-op care instructions from your doctor. Protect your vision after LASIK eye surgery by following these general guidelines for levels of exercise:

• Immediately after – 2 days: Do not attempt any exercise. Take the time immediately after to rest and recuperate.
• 3 days: You may engage in exercise that does not run the risk of causing trauma to the eyes, including exercise on a treadmill, stepping machine such as a StairMaster, or a stationary bicycle.
• 1 week: jogging outdoors, rollerblading, golfing and weight lifting. Wear protective goggles if trauma to the eye is a risk.
• 1 month: contact sports, racquet sports (with eye protection), swimming, dirt/mountain biking.
• 6 months: intensive outdoor activities such as scuba diving, kayaking, surfing and water skiing.

Perspiration in Eyes after LASIK

After LASIK vision correction, be cautious about perspiration getting into your eyes. Sweat can carry bacteria and pollutants into your eye, causing infection. When you begin exercising again at any level, you should wear a headband to prevent sweat from dripping into your eyes. Sweat in your eyes may also cause irritation, which could cause you to rub your eyes. You should not rub your eyes while healing after LASIK eye surgery because it could displace the corneal flap, which would require a second procedure to be repositioned.

Trauma to the Eyes after LASIK

Protective eyewear is recommended in the weeks after LASIK eye surgery when playing racquet sports or engaging in any other activity that could cause trauma to the eye. Trauma to the eye occurs when something, such as a baseball bat or tennis ball, hits you in the eye. One possible result of this trauma is that the corneal flap created during the LASIK eye surgery could be reopened. A reopened corneal flap would then have to be corrected in a follow-up surgery.

Talk to an experienced and knowledgeable eye doctor about LASIK vision correction and associated post-op considerations. Contact the Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley, serving San Francisco, Bay Area and San Jose, California.

1.800.725.0740