Can I Play Sports After LASIK Surgery?
Dr. Jonathan Woolfson
Some of the most common questions we get from patients interested in LASIK is, “Can I still play sports after my surgery?” and “When can I run after LASIK?”
It’s a great question, and since it’s important to many patients, we wrote this short article explaining what you can expect when it comes to sports and LASIK surgery.
I wish I had done this years ago…
You know who we hear these words from often? Athletes just like you!
Whether you’re involved in competitive athletics at the collegiate or professional level, or you just enjoy a pickup game of basketball with your friends, or hitting the links on a Saturday morning, LASIK may actually enhance your performance by providing freedom from glasses or contact lenses.
In fact, many professional athletes who play football, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball and a variety of other sports have undergone the LASIK procedure…some of them right here in Atlanta at Woolfson Eye Institute.
What precautions do athletes need to take when having LASIK?
There are certain precautions that all patients need to take immediately following their surgery. For athletes, these are especially important. Here are a few important guidelines to adhere to:
- Avoid participating in strenuous exercise for at least one week. Your eyes need time to heal.
- Avoid dusty, dirty environments for at least one week.
- You can bathe or shower the day after your surgery, but avoid lakes, pools, hot tubs, oceans, etc. for at least one week.
What about recovery times?
We know you’re anxious to return to the sport you love, but it is important to be very careful in the week following your surgery. Just like an athlete rehabbing an injury, you don’t want to come back too soon and risk complications.
It’s also important to note that while LASIK is a great procedure for the majority of athletes, there are a few sports (such as boxing or mixed martial arts) where another procedure such as PRK may be a better fit.
At Woolfson Eye Institute, our top priority is to ensure patients receive the treatment that is right for them, whether it is LASIK, PRK, or another vision correction procedure.
What procedures should I avoid?
If your primary goal is to play sports, especially ones that require good depth perception, like golf or tennis, treating both eyes for good distance vision makes sense. Monovision treatment corrects one eye for far and one for near, and helps patients over 40 avoid reading glasses, but probably won’t help to keep your eye on the ball.
LASIK and PRK are the two procedures most commonly recommended for athletes, but a consultation with one of our doctors will confirm candidacy for the procedure that best meets your needs.
If you’re an athlete interested in LASIK, give us a call!
Athletes are generally great candidates for LASIK, but to be sure, we need to see you in person. Give our office nearest you a call today or fill out the contact form on our website.