When can I swim 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

Wait for your surgeon's go-ahead. Scuba diving is off limits for as long as any gas bubble remains, with no exceptions.

Scuba diving is the clear-cut part. AAO states that you cannot fly in an airplane, go to mountains, high altitudes, or scuba dive until the gas bubble is gone, because pressure changes make the bubble change size and drive eye pressure up.

Pool and open-water swimming is a different concern: infection. ASRS lists infection among the possible complications of vitrectomy. Surgeons routinely ask patients to keep pool, lake, and hot tub water out of a recently operated eye while the incisions seal.

AAO and ASRS do not publish a specific waiting period in days before swimming after vitrectomy, so this is genuinely a surgeon-specific answer. Ask directly and ask about goggles.

Also remember AAO's general advice to limit activity for several weeks after retinal surgery. Vigorous swimming counts as exercise, so it falls under the same clearance.

When	Typical guidance
While any gas bubble remains	No scuba diving at all. AAO states this without exception.
Early healing	Keep pool, lake, and hot tub water out of the eye. ASRS lists infection as a possible complication.
Return to swimming	No published day count. Get a specific date and goggle advice from your surgeon.

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

Positioning After Retinal Surgery American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Vitrectomy American Society of Retina Specialists. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Detached Retina Treatment American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed 2026-08-25.

When can I swim after a vitrectomy?

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