Can I play sports and drive after laser eye surgery?

One of the most common concerns we discuss with our patients relates to the recovery process – in particular, restrictions on sports and driving after laser eye surgery.

It’s understandable: people who have to commute to work by car, and who tend to head straight to the gym or soccer practice afterwards can’t imagine that laser eye surgery could take them out of their daily routine for a long time.

In terms of physical activity, we explain:

1. Minor exercises of lower intensity can be performed as early as a few days after the procedure, but making sure that sweat does not get into the eyes and that they are not rubbed.
2. During the second week of recovery, sports such as tennis, squash, swimming, mountain biking and skiing can be safely practiced – adequate protection with glasses/goggles is required.
3. Power sports (boxing, martial arts, water skiing and sumo wrestling) require another two weeks of recovery.
4. If you do sports not recreationally, but competitively, a return to light aerobic exercise is possible after about two weeks, but contact ports (martial arts, team games) should be limited for about two months, and extreme sports – for three.

In terms of driving, we explain:

1. If the laser vision correction surgery went without complications, you will be able to drive as early as 24-48 hours after the procedure.
2. In the early stages of recovery, the natural reaction is a slight swelling of the eyes associated with the procedure itself and the adaptation to the new shape of the cornea, which can make it difficult to focus on driving.
3. Other discomforts may also appear, which will subside over time – the halo effect, excessive drying of the mucous membranes, hypersensitivity to light, faster eye fatigue.
4. If your eyes were operated on by one of the surface methods (e.g. EBK, TRANS PRK), you will regain visual comfort allowing you to drive for longer periods of time after 1-2 weeks.
5. If you have been treated with one of the deep methods (e.g. Lasik, Femtolasik), you will be able to go on a longer trip after just a few days.