Can You Travel After Lasik?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Most LASIK patients are cleared to fly during their next-day follow-up appointment

. This is good news for patients who traveled out of town for their surgery, as well as those who travel frequently for work or pleasure.

How long do you have to stay home after LASIK?

The recovery period for LASIK generally lasts

24 to 72 hours

, but it varies by patient, depending on several factors. Some patients see clearly within 24 hours after vision correction surgery, but others — especially PRK patients — take five or six days to make a full recovery.

How soon can you travel after eye surgery?

As a rough guide, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says that before flying, you should allow:

1 day after simple cataract or corneal laser surgery

. 1 day after a colonoscopy. 1 to 2 days after keyhole surgery.

Can I fly 2 weeks after LASIK?

Why You Should Wait On Flying After LASIK

Most doctors recommend not flying until you’re cleared at your follow-up appointment.

Usually, doctors recommend waiting at least one or two weeks before flying

. If possible, you should wait at least a month. This gives your eyes time to heal from the procedure.

Is LASIK or PRK better?

Due to its shorter recovery time,

Lasik for the majority of patients, is the better choice

. However, PRK best advantages is it does not require much of the cornea, thus making it the best choice for patients with thin corneas, large pupils, irregular astigmatism, or people involved in contact sports/jobs.

Can I travel by car after surgery?

Car and train travel, however,

may be safe after only a few days

. You should be able to resume driving as soon as you can move your head without pain or difficulty, as long as you are not taking prescription pain medication.

Is LASIK painful?

Fortunately, LASIK eye surgery is

not painful

. Right before your procedure, your surgeon will place numbing eye drops into both of your eyes. While you may still feel a little bit of pressure during the procedure, you should not feel any pain.

Why is vision blurry after LASIK?

Answer: Blurred vision after hours on the computer is

generally due to dryness

, which is common for six months after LASIK. It is best to use artificial tears at least every hour if you are going to be on the computer and to rest your eyes frequently (actually close them for a few moments) to keep them from drying out.

Is getting LASIK worth it?

LASIK surgery has a good track record. Complications that result in a loss of vision are rare, and

most people are satisfied with the results

. Certain side effects, particularly dry eyes and temporary visual disturbances (such as glare), are fairly common.

Can I fly after laser iridotomy?


There is no problem in flying 24 hours after having undergone a peripheral laser irridotomy

(IPL), a trabeculoplasty or any other type of surgery for glaucoma. However, we recommend to ask your ophthalmologist before flying.

Which is cheaper PRK or LASIK?

Because it doesn’t involve the added step of creating a flap,

PRK surgery is simpler and slightly quicker — and therefore cheaper

, typically costing several hundred dollars less per eye than LASIK.

Who is not eligible for LASIK?


Patients with autoimmune diseases

are not good LASIK candidates. Many autoimmune conditions cause dry eye syndrome. A dry eye may not heal well and has a higher risk of post-LASIK infection. Other conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma or cataracts often affect LASIK results.

Is PRK more expensive than LASIK?


The difference in price between LASIK and PRK can be as much as $1200

. LASIK surgery ranges in price between $1000 to $2600 per eye to perform. PRK laser eye surgery’s average cost is $2000 to $4000 for both eyes. Both procedures are considered an elective procedure and therefore are typically paid out of pocket.

Can you drive 3 days after surgery?

Driving After Anesthesia


Refrain from driving for the first 24 to 48 hours after receiving anesthesia

. In fact, for the first day, you should refrain from many things in addition to driving such as operating machinery, cooking, or doing any task that could obviously lead to injury, including handling a kitchen knife.

Can I fly 2 weeks after tummy tuck?


Wait a minimum of 10 days after surgery before flying

. Concern is risk of blood clots in the legs. You are having multiple complex procedures and need close follow up for first 2-3 weeks.

Can I go on vacation after lipo?

Gerth recommends booking liposuction at least one month in advance of any major events. Ideally,

you should book your procedure three months before you plan to go on holiday

, get married, or engage in any other summer activities where you want to look your absolute best.

What if you sneeze during LASIK?

If you sneeze, move or blink during the treatment, the laser tracks your eye over one thousand times per second and adjusts the laser to make certain the laser is applied to exactly the right place. So,

there is no reason to worry if you sneeze during LASIK

.

Can they put you to sleep for LASIK?


Yes, you will be awake for your entire LASIK corrective eye surgery procedure

. Some people assume because they are undergoing a surgical procedure that they will be given anesthesia and be put to sleep. Yet, unlike other types of surgeries, laser surgery only takes a few minutes to complete.

Can you ice your eyes after LASIK?

The Day after LASIK Surgery

Patients should continue to apply the medicated eye drops as prescribed, and they may also choose to apply lubricating eye drops and/or take pain medication to reduce any residual discomfort.

Patients may also get relief from applying a soft ice pack to closed eyes

.

How often does LASIK go wrong?

The LASIK complication rate is only about

0.3%

. The most commonly reported LASIK complications are infection or dry eye that persists for more than six months. Other complications include: Undercorrections occur when the laser removes too little tissue.

Do I need glasses after LASIK?

If you are nearsighted, or you can see clearly up close but not far away, LASIK may cause you to lose some of your ability to see up close earlier than usual. Similarly,

if your vision is fully corrected for distance, you are more likely to need reading glasses once presbyopia develops

.

Can your eyes get worse after LASIK?

Once you’ve recovered from Laser Eye Surgery, the changes made to your cornea by the laser are permanent and completely stable. The eye quickly adapts to your new vision. However,

it is possible that your eyesight will worsen after Laser Eye Surgery due to an unavoidable part of the body’s ageing process

.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.