How Long after LASIK must I wait before Swimming?

If you are planning for LASIK surgery this summer, you may be wondering how soon after your procedure you can jump in the pool or hit the beach.

The main concerns for swimming are:

• Rubbing your eyes
• Developing an eye infection

During the LASIK procedure, a flap-like incision is made in your cornea. In order for your procedure to be successful, the flap must be allowed to heal. If you rub your eyes before the edge of the flap has healed, you could potentially dislodge the flap, which would require a revision surgery.

If you swim in a chlorinated pool before the LASIK flap has healed, your eyes may become irritated and dry, and you may be tempted to rub them. Check with your eye surgeon about when you can swim in a pool. You may have to wait a week or two, at which point your surgeon may recommend swimming with goggles for some time.

For swimming in lakes, rivers and the ocean, your eye surgeon may suggest an additional week of healing before you swim. These water bodies can carry bacteria that could enter your eye and cause an infection, something you don't want after your LASIK procedure.

The guidelines listed above are general. Each patient heals differently, and you should ask your eye surgeon about when you can start swimming after LASIK.

To learn more about LASIK, please contact an experienced eye surgeon in your area.