How Many Days Rest is Required After Laser Eye Surgery?

How many days’ rest is required after Laser Eye Surgery? Most people only need one day of rest after laser eye surgery, but the exact recovery time depends on the treatment type, your personal healing pattern and the activities you want to resume.

We lead busy lives and want to get back to our usual activities as soon as possible after a medical procedure like laser eye surgery. And we want to know what to expect, what we must and can do after laser eye surgery.

What are the Typical Rest Periods After Different Types of Laser Eye Surgery?

LASIK

Resting for 24 hours after LASIK is recommended, and by the day afterwards, your vision is usually great. People who work in an office usually return to work within a day or two after LASIK. People who do more physical work may require more time off work and should discuss their work circumstances with their eye surgeon.

SMILE

SMILE, similar to LASIK, has a fast recovery with minimal discomfort.

PRK and LASEK

Recovery after PRK and LASEK is slower, with a longer recovery of about 5 days or longer before they can return to work and their eyes feel comfortable. But we heal differently, so some can get back to most activities within 3 days, and some take 7 days or more.

Rest Guidelines for Everyday Activities

Also, rest time before returning to specific activities is affected by the type of laser vision correction you have had. Here are some general guidelines for specific activities and laser eye surgery types; however, you should always follow surgeon’s recommendation as they will have checked your eyes before surgery, will know how the surgery went and will see you regularly afterwards so they can give you specific, personal advice.

• Getting splashes of water in your eye: 1 week. But you can shower the day after surgery, just keep water out of your eye.
• Eye make-up: 1 week.
• Driving – usually safe the day after LASIK and SMILE, and you will be able to confirm this at the follow-up appointment with your surgeon the day after your LASIK or SMILE procedure. You are usually OK to drive by about the fifth day after LASEK or PRK, but once again, your surgeon will confirm this at your appointment around that time.
• Screen time – reasonable length sessions are usually possible by the day after LASIK and SMILE, but you may have to use lubricant eye drops if your eyes feel dry. Once again PRK and LASEK may reduce your screen time for a few days, but you are welcome to try to do short sessions.
• Sports and exercise – avoid swimming, contact sports, and heavy workouts for at least 2–4 weeks to protect your eyes during the laser eye surgery healing time. Ask your surgeon about when you can return to the specific activities you take part in.

But remember that everyone’s laser eye treatment recovery time is different. So, how many days’ rest is required after Laser Eye Surgery? Let your surgeon guide you on what’s safe based on your eyes and lifestyle. Following this advice ensures a smoother laser eye surgery recovery and helps you feel more comfortable as you heal.