LASIK Week 2: What to Expect

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.

By week 2 most people are functioning normally and the day to day discomfort is largely gone. Dryness usually remains. StatPearls reports dry eye in about 85 to 98 percent of patients at one week, falling to around 60 percent at one month, so week 2 sits in the middle of that improvement curve. Artificial tears are still commonly needed.

Vision is usually stable enough for most work and driving but can still fluctuate. The FDA says that during the first few months after surgery your vision may fluctuate, and that glare, halos, and difficulty driving at night may persist during the stabilization period. That is expected at this stage, not a sign the surgery failed.

Some restrictions start to lift around now and others do not. The Academy says no swimming or exposing the eye to water for a minimum of 2 weeks until the eye heals, while the FDA is more conservative and says avoid swimming, hot tubs, and whirlpools for 1 to 2 months. Strenuous exercise and contact sports are still out. Ask your surgeon which timeline applies to you before you get back in the water.

Usually normal at this stage

dryness, especially with screens, wind, or air conditioning
vision that fluctuates mildly through the day
night halos and starbursts that are noticeably fading but not gone
occasional blurry spells that clear after blinking

Still off-limits

no strenuous exercise or contact sports, the Academy says up to 1 month
confirm with your surgeon before swimming, the Academy says a minimum of 2 weeks and the FDA says 1 to 2 months
keep protecting the eye from anything that could hit or bump it
wear sunglasses outdoors, the Academy advises protective eyewear even on overcast days
no contact lenses in the operated eye unless your surgeon specifically clears it

Call your surgeon now if you notice any of these

Severe eye pain, or pain that gets worse instead of better, at any point after surgery
Vision or any other symptom that is getting worse instead of better, rather than improving over the first days
Sudden decrease or sudden loss of vision in either eye
Any new or unusual symptom at any point after surgery, which the FDA says could signal a problem that may lead to loss of vision if not treated early enough
Signs the corneal flap may have moved, such as a sudden sharp foreign body or scratching sensation, sudden blurring, tearing, and light sensitivity, especially after rubbing, bumping, or being hit in the eye. The FDA warns that rubbing the eye could dislodge the flap, and StatPearls lists flap dislodgement among corneal flap complications reported in about 0.1 to 4 percent of patients
Signs of diffuse lamellar keratitis, a sterile inflammation in the layer under the flap, which StatPearls says usually appears one to two days after surgery in as many as 1 in 50 cases and shows up as blurriness and a foreign body sensation. It typically resolves with appropriate steroid treatment after about a week, but it needs the surgeon to see it and change your drops
Signs of infection, such as increasing redness, discharge, worsening light sensitivity, and dropping vision. StatPearls reports infectious keratitis in less than 0.1 percent of patients, with atypical mycobacteria typically appearing one to two weeks after surgery
Any eye injury or blunt trauma to the operated eye, at any time after LASIK, because the flap interface never regains full corneal strength
New floaters, flashes of light, or a curtain or shadow across part of your vision. StatPearls lists retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, and posterior vitreous detachment among rare complications occurring in less than 0.1 percent of patients

These warning signs after LASIK can point to problems that need same-day care. Do not wait for your next scheduled visit. If you cannot reach your surgeon's office, use their on-call line, or go to an emergency room.

Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration; StatPearls Publishing, NCBI Bookshelf; Journal of Refractive Surgery

Sources

What should I expect before, during, and after surgery? U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed 2026-08-25.
When to Resume Exercise After an Eye Surgery or Injury American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) StatPearls Publishing, NCBI Bookshelf. Accessed 2026-08-25.

LASIK Week 2: What to Expect

Usually normal at this stage

Still off-limits

More on LASIK recovery

Sources