PostOp Eyes

LASIK Recovery: What to Expect

Illustration for LASIK recovery

General information about typical recovery, not medical advice. Every eye and every surgery is different, and your surgeon's instructions override anything on this page. Read our full disclaimer.

LASIK is a laser procedure that reshapes the cornea, the clear front window of the eye, so light focuses more sharply on the retina. The surgeon numbs the eye with drops, creates a thin flap in the cornea with a blade device or a laser, folds the flap back, reshapes the tissue underneath with an excimer laser, and lays the flap back down. No stitches are used. The FDA notes the whole visit usually takes less than 30 minutes for the surgery itself, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology says the flap settles back into place on its own in about 2 to 3 minutes.

The thing most people are surprised by is that vision improves fast but healing takes much longer. The FDA tells patients to expect not to see clearly right away and to plan on a few days of taking it easy. Vision often improves a lot within the first day, but the FDA says it may take three to six months for vision to fully stabilize, and the Academy says vision is generally stable and clear at about six months. Fluctuating vision during that window is common, not a sign that something went wrong.

Dry eye and night vision changes are the two most talked about parts of LASIK recovery. StatPearls reports dry eye in roughly 85 to 98 percent of patients one week after surgery, dropping to around 60 percent at one month, because the laser cuts corneal nerves that have to regrow. StatPearls also reports that about 20 percent of patients notice some visual change such as glare, halos, or starbursts, and that these tend to stabilize three to six months after surgery.

This page describes what published guidance says recovery typically looks like. It is not a diagnosis and it cannot tell you how your own eyes are healing. Your surgeon knows your corneal thickness, your flap, your prescription, and your drop schedule, so your surgeon's instructions override everything here. If something is new, unusual, or getting worse instead of better, the FDA is explicit: contact your eye doctor immediately rather than waiting for your scheduled visit.

The typical timeline

Typical full recovery: 3-6 months for vision to stabilize. Ranges below are what published guidance describes for most people; your surgeon may set different limits for your eye.

StageWhat to expectRestrictions
Surgery dayDay 0You will be able to see, but not clearly. The FDA says that immediately after the procedure your eye may burn, itch, or feel like something is in it, both eyes may tear or water, and vision will probably be hazy or blurry. Some people have mild pain and the doctor may suggest a mild pain reliever. Light sensitivity, glare, starbursts or halos around lights, and a red or bloodshot look to the white of the eye are all listed by the FDA as things you may experience. The Academy notes the eyes may feel scratchy or burning for a few hours. Most people go home and nap.Do not drive yourself home. The FDA says the relaxing medicine you may be given impairs driving and your vision may be blurry, so arrange for someone to bring you home. Wear the eye shield the surgeon places over the eye. The FDA says the shield matters because no stitches hold the flap in place, and it keeps you from rubbing your eye or putting pressure on it while you sleep. Do not rub the eye. The FDA warns that rubbing could dislodge the flap and require further treatment. Start your prescribed drops on the schedule you were given.
First 24 to 48 hoursDay 1-2This is when most people notice the big jump in vision. The Academy says that in most cases you can return to work and drive the day after the procedure, and that the day after surgery your surgeon or another eye doctor will test your vision and check that the eye is healing as it should. The FDA says you should see your doctor within the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery. At that visit the doctor removes the eye shield, tests vision, and examines the eye. Vision is often functional but not crisp, and it may still be hazy in dim light.Keep taking drops on schedule. The FDA says your doctor may give you one or more types of eye drops to help prevent infection or inflammation, plus artificial tears to lubricate the eye. Keep wearing the shield at night if you were told to. Do not put a contact lens back in the operated eye, even if vision is blurry, because the FDA says so directly. No swimming, hot tubs, or whirlpools. No eye makeup, lotions, or creams around the eye. The FDA says wait one to three days before any non-contact sports, depending on how much activity is involved, how you feel, and your doctor's instructions.
Rest of the first weekDays 3-7The FDA says the early symptoms, meaning the burning, tearing, haze, glare, starbursts, and redness, should improve considerably within the first few days after surgery. Dryness usually becomes the loudest complaint in this stretch. StatPearls reports dry eye in about 85 to 98 percent of patients one week after surgery, caused by the surgery interrupting the tear reflex when corneal nerves are cut. StatPearls also notes that diffuse lamellar keratitis, a sterile inflammation under the flap, usually shows up one to two days after surgery in as many as 1 in 50 cases and typically resolves with steroid drops after about a week.Still no swimming, hot tubs, or whirlpools. Still no eye makeup near the eye. Still no eye rubbing. The American Refractive Surgery Council, a secondary industry source, puts light exercise at roughly 3 to 7 days and eye makeup at roughly 1 week, but the FDA's more conservative guidance is to wait up to two weeks for lotions, creams, or makeup around the eye unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Follow whichever your surgeon gave you.
Weeks 2 to 4Week 2 to Week 4Vision is usually much steadier by now, though the FDA says vision may fluctuate during the first few months and that glare, halos, and difficulty driving at night may persist through the stabilization period. Dryness is usually improving but is often not gone. StatPearls reports dry eye still present in around 60 percent of patients at one month. The Academy says it is normal to have some blurry vision or changing vision for several weeks or even months after laser eye surgery, along with dry eyes, glare, or halos around lights.The Academy says no swimming or exposing the eye to water for a minimum of 2 weeks until the eye heals, and the FDA says avoid swimming, hot tubs, and whirlpools for 1 to 2 months. No strenuous exercise or contact sports. The Academy says up to 1 month, and the FDA says strenuous contact sports such as boxing, football, and karate should not be attempted for at least four weeks after surgery. The Academy also advises wearing protective eyewear outdoors, even on overcast days.
Months 1 to 3Month 1 to Month 3Most everyday activity is back to normal. Remaining symptoms in this window are usually dryness that comes and goes, some fluctuation in sharpness through the day, and night glare that is fading. StatPearls says visual aberrations such as glare, halos, starbursts, haze, and reduced contrast sensitivity tend to stabilize three to six months after the procedure. The FDA says it may take three to six months for vision to stabilize after surgery.By this point restrictions are mostly lifted, but the FDA's swimming and hot tub guidance runs out to 1 to 2 months, so confirm with your surgeon before getting back in a pool or hot tub. Keep protecting the eye from being hit or bumped during sports. Do not push for an enhancement yet. The FDA says if further correction is needed you should wait until your eye measurements are consistent for two consecutive visits at least 3 months apart before re-operation.
Months 3 to 6 and beyondMonth 3-6The Academy says vision is generally stable and clear at about six months after surgery, and that if you had dry eyes or other visual disturbances you should find most of those symptoms have disappeared or are much less obvious by then. The Academy also says you will probably have regular follow-up visits for six months or longer. StatPearls reports that about 10 percent of patients have an enhancement procedure, usually within a year of the first surgery, and that rates are higher in people over 40, with high initial corrections, or with astigmatism. Some symptoms can persist. The FDA warns that some patients develop severe dry eye syndrome that may be permanent, and that some patients develop glare, halos, or double vision that can seriously affect nighttime vision.Normal activity, with two lasting cautions. The flap interface never regains full strength. A peer-reviewed study of human donor corneas found the central and paracentral LASIK wound averaged only 2.4 percent as strong as normal corneal stroma, while the flap wound margin reached about 28.1 percent of normal by 3.5 years. The same study found surgeons could lift LASIK flaps for retreatment without complications up to 8.4 years after the original surgery. Practically, that means eye protection for sports and blunt-injury risk is a long-term habit, not a 4 week rule. Ask your surgeon what that means for your job and hobbies.

Day by day

When can I...

Is this normal?

Common questions

How long does LASIK recovery actually take?
Vision usually improves a lot within the first day, but full stabilization takes months. The FDA says it may take three to six months for your vision to stabilize after surgery, and that vision may fluctuate during the first few months. The Academy says vision is generally stable and clear at about six months, and that you will probably have regular follow-up visits for six months or longer. Your surgeon's schedule for you overrides these general ranges.
When can I drive and go back to work after LASIK?
The Academy says that in most cases you can return to work, as well as drive, the day after the procedure. The FDA is a bit more cautious and suggests planning to take a few days to recover and a few days off work until early symptoms subside. You cannot drive on surgery day, because the FDA says the relaxing medicine you may be given impairs driving and your vision may be blurry, so someone must bring you home. Night driving can stay difficult longer because of glare and halos.
Why are my eyes so dry after LASIK, and will it go away?
Creating the flap and reshaping the cornea cuts corneal nerves, which interrupts the reflex that triggers tear production. StatPearls reports dry eye in roughly 85 to 98 percent of patients one week after surgery, dropping to around 60 percent at one month, managed with artificial tears and sometimes punctal plugs until the nerves regenerate. For most people it keeps improving, and the Academy says by about six months most such symptoms have disappeared or are much less obvious. The FDA does warn that some patients develop severe dry eye syndrome that may be permanent, so tell your surgeon if it is not improving.
When can I swim, exercise, and play sports again?
The FDA says wait one to three days before any non-contact sports, depending on activity level, how you feel, and your doctor's instructions, and says strenuous contact sports such as boxing, football, and karate should not be attempted for at least four weeks. The Academy says no strenuous exercise and contact sports for up to 1 month, and no swimming or exposing the eye to water for a minimum of 2 weeks. The FDA is more conservative on water and says avoid swimming, hot tubs, and whirlpools for 1 to 2 months. Ask your surgeon which applies to you.
Does the LASIK flap ever fully heal, and can I rub my eyes again?
The flap seals but never becomes normal tissue. A peer-reviewed study of human donor corneas that had LASIK found the central and paracentral flap wound averaged only 2.4 percent as strong as normal corneal stroma with minimal change over time, while the flap margin healed about 10 times stronger and reached roughly 28.1 percent of normal by 3.5 years. The same study's clinical series found flaps could still be lifted for retreatment without complications up to 8.4 years later. Practically, the FDA says do not rub your eye early on because it could dislodge the flap, and long term it is worth dropping hard rubbing as a habit and using eye protection for impact sports.

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