Can I exercise after laser eye surgery?

Many people who have laser eye surgery are excited to get back to the gym, the field, or the pool. Exercise is part of staying healthy, but after eye surgery, your eyes need some time to heal first.

So, can you exercise after laser eye surgery? The short answer is yes, but not right away. Let’s look at how long you should wait and what activities are safe as your eyes recover.

Why rest is important after laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery reshapes the front part of your eye, called the cornea, to help you see more clearly. Even though it’s a quick procedure, your eyes need time to heal¹https://crstoday.com/articles/2014-jan/enhancing-the-speed-of-visual-recovery-after-lasik .

During the first few days, your eyes are more sensitive. If you exercise too soon, sweat, dust, or strain could slow down your healing or cause irritation. That’s why your eye care team will ask you to take it easy at first.

Everyone heals at a different pace, so your recovery plan may not look the same as someone else’s. Always follow your eye doctor’s instructions, they know what’s best for your situation.

The first 24 hours: rest and recover

For the first day after surgery, focus on resting your eyes. Avoid:

• Any exercise or heavy lifting
• Rubbing your eyes
• Using screens too much
• Driving.

It’s normal for your eyes to feel watery, gritty, or sensitive to light. Rest in a dark room if you need to. Most people can return to light daily activities the next day, but exercise should still wait a bit longer.

After 2-3 days: gentle activity

Once your eyes start to feel more comfortable, you can return to gentle movement, such as:

• Walking
• Stretching
• Easy yoga (no face-down poses yet).

Avoid activities that make you sweat heavily or risk getting anything in your eyes. Sweat can carry bacteria and increase the chance of infection.

If you normally wear eye makeup to the gym, skip it for now. Tiny particles can enter the eye and cause irritation.

After 1-2 weeks: low-impact exercise

After your post-surgery check-up, your doctor may clear you for low-impact exercise, such as:

• Stationary cycling
• Pilates or slow yoga
• Light weights.

Wear a clean sweatband or towel to keep sweat away from your eyes. Still, avoid swimming, contact sports, or anything where something could hit your face.

If your eyes feel dry or uncomfortable during activity, take a break and use your prescribed lubricating drops.

After 3-4 weeks: moderate exercise

Around this time, many people can start more moderate workouts, like jogging or aerobics, if their eyes are healing well. Make sure:

• You wear sunglasses outdoors to protect from dust and UV light
• You avoid rubbing your eyes
• You clean your workout space to reduce bacteria

If your eyes still feel sensitive or vision is blurry, wait a few more days and check in with your eye doctor before increasing activity.

After 4-6 weeks: back to most sports

For many patients, 4-6 weeks after laser eye surgery is when things start to feel normal again. By now, your eyes have had time to heal, and most types of exercise can be resumed safely, but only if your eye care team confirms it’s okay.

You may now be able to return to:

• Running
• Cycling outdoors
• Team sports (with eye protection)
• Gym training.

If you play contact sports like basketball, football, or martial arts, wear protective eyewear for extra safety. Even a small bump to the eye could cause discomfort or slow your healing.

When can you swim again?

Swimming is one of the last activities to come back after laser eye surgery. Pools, lakes, and the ocean can contain bacteria that may irritate your eyes or lead to infection.

It’s usually safest to wait 4-6 weeks before swimming again, but always confirm with your surgeon first. When you do return to the water, wear snug, clean goggles.

Exercise tips for a smooth recovery

Here are a few simple ways to protect your eyes as you return to activity² https://www.verywellhealth.com/laser-cataract-surgery-3421943 :

• Avoid rubbing your eyes. Even weeks later, this can affect healing.
• Wear sunglasses outdoors. Protects from dust, wind, and UV rays.
• Clean your gear. Towels, mats, and helmets can hold bacteria.
• Stay hydrated. Helps keep your eyes moist and comfortable.
• Listen to your body. If your eyes feel sore, take a break and rest.

When to call your eye doctor

After laser eye surgery, mild dryness or blurry vision can be normal. But contact your clinic right away if you notice:

• Sharp or increasing pain
• Redness or swelling
• Vision that suddenly changes
• Spots or flashing lights.

Your care team is there to help and can make sure your healing stays on track.

How Blink Vision Clinic can help

At Blink Vision Clinic in Canberra, we take the time to understand your lifestyle and recovery goals. Before recommending laser surgery, we assess your eye health, healing capacity, and activity level.

Your follow-up plan will include clear steps for when it’s safe to return to each type of exercise.

Ready to find out if you’re a good candidate?

If you’re thinking about laser eye surgery and want to know how it might fit your lifestyle, take our suitability self-test.

It’s quick, easy, and helps you learn if you may be ready for the next step.