Patients frequently ask about the types of activities they should abstain from after laser eye surgery. One of the more potentially dangerous activities after LASIK is swimming.
Natural Bodies and Swimming Pool Water Dangerous
Your skin and eyes are exposed to numerous living organisms and chemicals whether you are swimming in:
- Ocean
- Swimming pool
- Lake
- River
- Hot tub
Microscopic organisms and chemicals can both pose potential hazards even if your eyes are completely healthy. However, LASIK or other types of laser vision correction are surgical procedures, and create an incision in the surface of your eye which can attract or harbor those organisms and chemicals.
Once a foreign object has worked its way into your cornea, you are at very high risk for infection or other type of eye injury. Because of this, Dr. Harvey Carter recommends that you avoid swimming for as much as 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the type of vision correction surgery you have undergone.
Schedule Your Procedure Early
If you cannot avoid swimming after your LASIK procedure, you should wear protective eyewear that completely seals the eye off from contact with the water. If you are planning a vacation or trip where you plan to go snorkeling or scuba diving, you should either wait until after your vacation for your procedure, or schedule your vision procedure far enough in advance to give your time eyes to heal before exposing them to water.
To learn more about protecting your eyes after LASIK and laser eye surgery, please contact Dr. Carter today at Carter Eye Clinic, serving the swimming community in Dallas, Texas, and the surrounding areas.
