Can you open your eyes under water after LASIK ?

[Rodo]

Hi all,

I'm not planning to go swimming the day after surgery. I'm just wondering if
there are any issues with opening my eyes under water way after surgery. By
way I mean 6-12 month. Is that even long enough ? Is this something I should
forget about doing ?

Right now it is pointless to open my eyes under water because ... I can't
see a thing :-)

Thanks

[Glenn - USAEyes.org]

You will want to verify with your doctor when all is okay, but after a
period of time and healthy healing, you will be able to open your eyes
under water with virtually the same level of risk from the water
environment as if you had not had LASIK.

Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance

Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org

http://www.USAEyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org

I am not a doctor.

[Ar Fai Ve]

Post by Rodo
I'm not planning to go swimming the day after surgery. I'm just wondering if
there are any issues with opening my eyes under water way after surgery. By

Slightly related to your answer: my physician told me that
scuba diving is permitted 2 weeks after the lasik procedure,
barring complicatons.

[Wal]

Hi Rodo,

Post by Rodo
Hi all,
I'm not planning to go swimming the day after surgery. I'm just wondering if
there are any issues with opening my eyes under water way after surgery. By
way I mean 6-12 month. Is that even long enough ? Is this something I should
forget about doing ?
Right now it is pointless to open my eyes under water because ... I can't
see a thing :-)

I had Lasik in summer (February - Australia here) and I do a lot of swimming
so was bad timing in that regard. I swam a little after 2 weeks with goggles
on then at around 3 weeks I carefully opened my eyes under water. It felt a
little strange at first.

One thing you may find disappointing is that you still don't see real good
under there. Its really not a lot better than before. Bit of a bugger aye.
With goggles on it is great but always was much better pre lasik too. Tell
you what though its great at the beach. You can be out in the surf and look
onto the beach and actually see where you left your towel. Amazing !!!
Like others said here listen to what your doc says. They know best. Be
patient although its hard. I know I was jet skiing after 1 week - lucky I
never fell off.
Hope your lasik goes well. Don't be put off with all the negativity around
here. Some people are born wingers!!

Regards
Wal

[Glenn - USAEyes.org]

Post by Wal
I had Lasik in summer (February - Australia here) and I do a lot of swimming
so was bad timing in that regard.

Just in case those of us in the Northern Hemisphere have forgotten,
the seasons are opposite in Australia. February's weather would be
more like August's here.

Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance

Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org

http://www.USAEyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org

I am not a doctor.

[Linda]

Post by Wal
I had Lasik in summer (February - Australia here) and I do a lot of swimming
so was bad timing in that regard. I swam a little after 2 weeks with goggles
on then at around 3 weeks I carefully opened my eyes under water. It felt a
little strange at first.
One thing you may find disappointing is that you still don't see real good
under there. Its really not a lot better than before. Bit of a bugger aye.
With goggles on it is great but always was much better pre lasik too. Tell
you what though its great at the beach. You can be out in the surf and look
onto the beach and actually see where you left your towel. Amazing !!!
Like others said here listen to what your doc says. They know best. Be
patient although its hard. I know I was jet skiing after 1 week - lucky I
never fell off.
Hope your lasik goes well. Don't be put off with all the negativity around
here. Some people are born wingers!!
Regards
Wal

Hi Wal,
I was swimmimg in the surf without goggles about a month after Lasik.
I agree with your comments about not seeing any better under water! Oh
well, can't always get everything you want!
Regards,
Linda

[Simpledog]

I went surfing one month after lasik. Ocean water is like a big giant
saline bath.

Post by Rodo
Hi all,
I'm not planning to go swimming the day after surgery. I'm just wondering if
there are any issues with opening my eyes under water way after surgery. By
way I mean 6-12 month. Is that even long enough ? Is this something I should
forget about doing ?
Right now it is pointless to open my eyes under water because ... I can't
see a thing :-)
Thanks

[Glenn - USAEyes.org]

Post by Simpledog
I went surfing one month after lasik. Ocean water is like a big giant
saline bath.

With a gazillion things living in every cubic meter!

Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance

Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org

http://www.USAEyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org

I am not a doctor.

[Simpledog]

Hey, I didn't say it was sterilized...but it sure feels good on the old
eyes!

Post by Glenn - USAEyes.org

Post by Simpledog
I went surfing one month after lasik. Ocean water is like a big giant
saline bath.

With a gazillion things living in every cubic meter!
Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance
Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org
http://www.USAEyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org
I am not a doctor.

[DoctorMyEye]

Glenn is making an important point. There is swimming...and then
there is swimming. In a chlorinated pool that is well-maintained, you
are not at risk.
In lake water or ocean water that is teeming with microbes, be very
careful.
You don't want to grow microbes under your flaps, or introduce too
much salt to your eyes that would de-hydrate them while they are
trying to heal.

One of Dr G's most common points here is that very few eyes are "lost"
to bacterial infections that completely eat a cornea, but one of the
most dangerous microbes to do so is acanthomoeba, which lives in a lot
of dirty rivers and lakes.

Post by Simpledog
Hey, I didn't say it was sterilized...but it sure feels good on the old
eyes!

Post by Glenn - USAEyes.org

Post by Simpledog
I went surfing one month after lasik. Ocean water is like a big giant
saline bath.

With a gazillion things living in every cubic meter!
Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance
Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org
http://www.USAEyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org
I am not a doctor.

[i***@gmail.com]

my doctor told me NO swimming for minimum 2 months. id say 2 months just to be safe