Thinking about the impact of laser vision correction on physical activity, we must take into account the fact that the phrase includes both our amateur sports and professional, competitive sports. “Physical activity” is also, or perhaps primarily, ordinary daily activity – work, cleaning, shopping. For some, the return to daily physical activity will be a return to training at the pool or working in the uniformed services, for others – simply being able to shuffle around the house every day.
Active summer, and laser vision correction
If you are planning laser vision correction because your goal is unlimited physical activity in the summer, you need to plan ahead. The optimal time of year is autumn, winter and early spring. Why? After laser vision correction, you will have to refrain from swimming, diving, sunbathing and long strenuous mountain hikes.
The pool and sauna are also out. The eyes must be constantly protected from wind and sun. Hot and dry air and intense sunlight do not have a good effect on eye healing, so it would be advisable to choose a vacation under a pear tree rather than a vacation in the tropics.
Normal daily physical activity, or ordinary life after laser vision correction
Most patients can return to work and normal daily activities as early as 24 hours after the procedure, but if you are concerned that you will not be able to focus on work during recovery, just take a few days off. If it is necessary and we take up work the very next day, it is necessary to moisten the eyes very intensively and protect them with glasses so that no foreign body enters the eye. If you work at a computer, you should also remember to take breaks every half hour.
If our work involves a dress code, remember that for about 2 weeks after surgery it is important not to paint the eyes – facial makeup cosmetics must not reach the eye, for example, applied on the hands, because any pollen that gets there carries the risk of infection and infection, and thus postoperative complications.
You can sit behind the wheel as early as 24-48 hours after the procedure, but be aware that your vision may still be stabilizing in the first few days after the procedure, so be more careful – especially in the sun (you need to reach for sunglasses) and after dusk (you may have problems with accommodation).
Amateur sporting activities
Minor exercises of a lower intensity can be performed for a few days after the procedure, however, making sure that sweat does not get into the eyes and that they are not rubbed. By the second week of recovery, the corneal tissue is healed enough to safely participate in sports such as tennis, squash, swimming, mountain biking and skiing – adequate protection with glasses/goggles is required, but power sports (boxing, martial arts, water skiing and sumo wrestling) require another two weeks of recovery.
Return to competitive/professional sports
Professional athletes often have to opt for laser vision correction, because it is the falcon vision that determines the legitimacy of sports to win trophies – this is the case, for example, in shooting, archery, or even ski jumping.
For an athlete, high myopia means not only the discomfort of blurred distance vision, but also the risk of retinal detachment or degenerative and atrophic changes. People with high myopia should avoid excessive physical exertion combined with fluctuations in intraocular pressure or optokinetic nystagmus (occurs when viewing fast-moving objects). Not surprisingly, athletes with a career in mind opt for laser vision correction. Returning to training depends on what kind of sports you practice.
- Light aerobic exercise (running, aerobics) – a return to exercise is possible after about two weeks.
- Water sports – a return to exercise is possible after about a month.
- Contact sports (martial arts, team games) – should be limited for about two months.
Extreme sports (bungee jumping, deep-sea diving) – should be limited for about three months.
