When can I exercise after LASIK?

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.

Short answer

The FDA says wait one to three days for non-contact sports. The Academy says no strenuous exercise or contact sports for up to 1 month.

The FDA says you should wait one to three days following surgery before beginning any non-contact sports, depending on the amount of activity required, how you feel, and your doctor's instructions. That covers things like walking, a stationary bike, or an easy treadmill session where nothing is going to hit your face.

Strenuous exercise is a longer wait. The Academy's guidance for LASIK is no strenuous exercise and contact sports for 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 states a general rule worth following: always ask your ophthalmologist before resuming any form of exercise.

Two practical points. First, sweat running into the eye is an irritation and infection concern in the early weeks, and the FDA warns to protect your eyes from anything that might get in them. Second, gym pools, hot tubs, and steam rooms are off limits longer than the gym floor is. The FDA says avoid swimming and using hot tubs or whirlpools for 1 to 2 months.

When	Typical guidance
Days 1 to 3	Non-contact activity may be allowed, per FDA guidance and your doctor's instructions.
First 1 to 2 weeks	Keep it light, avoid sweat in the eyes and anything that could hit your face.
Up to 1 month	No strenuous exercise or contact sports, per the Academy.
1 to 2 months	No pools, hot tubs, or whirlpools, per FDA guidance.

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.
LASIK Recovery Timeline: When Can You Get Back to Your Activities? American Refractive Surgery Council. Accessed 2026-08-25.

When can I exercise after LASIK?

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