Is LASIK Eye Surgery Risky for Athletes?

January 26, 2018

The chance to fully utilize your eyes without contacts or glasses is tempting for anyone with less-than-perfect vision. For an athlete, it might become especially tempting. If you can see better, perhaps you can even play better. The question, though, is whether or not it’s completely safe for athletes. You might wonder if, after the surgery, your eye will be too sensitive to take a hit. Maybe you are even wondering if getting the surgery is really worth it.

There are a few cautions that must be advised for anyone undergoing LASIK, but even more so for athletes and anyone who regularly plays sports. Some sports participants are at a higher risk than others, but every athlete should heed caution.

Commit to the Recovery Time, Or Don’t Get LASIK at All

If you really love the sport you play, you won’t want to be away from it for very long. You don’t want to miss practice, or even worse, a competitive match. The problem is, though, that if you elect to play sports before the recovery time has fully elapsed, you are putting yourself at a serious risk of severe eye injury and even infection. The corneal flap in front of your eye that receives an incision during surgery has a chance to re-open if it takes an impact. You absolutely must commit to the recovery time suggested by your doctor. Avoid eye injury at all costs.

Don’t Put REM-Related Stress On the Eyes

Even if you don’t play a contact sport, the stress that can be put on your eyes through REM, or Rapid Eye Movement, can also be a real threat to your recovery. This eye movement is very common in all sports, even low contact sports. This stress is unnecessary and should be avoided during your recovery time.