When can I exercise after a vitrectomy?

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

Expect several weeks of limited activity. Gentle walking usually comes back first, and your surgeon decides when harder exercise is safe.

AAO's retinal detachment guidance says patients should limit activity for several weeks and that the ophthalmologist provides specific guidance on returning to normal activities. That is the clearest published statement, and it does not name a single exercise date.

Positioning is the first limit. While you are holding a face-down or side position, workouts are essentially off the table. AAO does note that walking while staying face-down is part of the positioning instruction, so gentle movement is usually possible.

Two risks explain the caution. ASRS lists bleeding, high or low eye pressure, and retinal detachment among the possible complications of vitrectomy, and StatPearls notes that raised intraocular pressure is a known problem with gas tamponade. Straining and impact can aggravate both.

Swimming pools, hot tubs, and open water are a separate question and are covered in the swimming answer. Contact sports and anything involving a risk of a blow to the eye should wait for explicit surgeon clearance.

When	Typical guidance
First days	Rest. Positioning takes priority over everything else.
During positioning	Gentle walking in the assigned position only.
Several weeks after surgery	AAO advises limited activity for several weeks; ask your surgeon before adding intensity.
Contact or impact sports	Wait for explicit clearance from your retina surgeon and ask about protective eyewear.

Call your surgeon now if you notice any of these

Pain that keeps increasing, or pain not relieved by your prescribed drops. ASRS notes severe pain is uncommon after vitrectomy unless there is unusual inflammation or high eye pressure
A sudden decrease or loss of vision, or vision that was improving and then clearly gets worse
A new dark shadow or gray curtain moving across any part of your vision
A sudden burst of many new floaters, or new flashing lights, which NEI and AAO list as emergency signs of retinal detachment
Signs of very high eye pressure: a deep hard ache with nausea or vomiting, halos around lights, or severe pain. StatPearls lists raised intraocular pressure as a known complication of gas tamponade
Signs of infection: worsening redness, thick yellow or green discharge, swelling that is getting worse, or increasing pain. ASRS lists infection among the possible complications of vitrectomy
Any time a doctor, dentist, or paramedic is about to give you anesthesia while you still have a gas bubble. Tell them you have intraocular gas and that nitrous oxide must not be used. ASRS states that nitrous gas anesthesia should be strictly avoided when a gas bubble has been used
Any pressure to fly, travel to altitude, or dive before your surgeon has confirmed the bubble is gone. AAO warns this can cause severe pain, permanent vision loss, or even blindness

These warning signs after vitrectomy 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: American Society of Retina Specialists; American Academy of Ophthalmology; National Eye Institute (NIH); StatPearls Publishing / NCBI Bookshelf

Sources

Detached Retina Treatment American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Positioning After Retinal Surgery American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Vitrectomy American Society of Retina Specialists. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Agents for Vitreous Tamponade (StatPearls) StatPearls Publishing / NCBI Bookshelf. Accessed 2026-08-25.

When can I exercise after a vitrectomy?

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