Athletes can be excellent candidates for laser eye surgery, as freedom from glasses and contact lenses can be a major advantage in sport.
Benefits and suitability
Improved uncorrected vision helps performance and convenience in many disciplines.
- Particularly helpful for outdoor, endurance, and ball sports
- Removal of contact‑lens related dryness, fogging, or dislodgement
- Suitability based on the usual eye health and prescription checks
- Choice of procedure influenced by the risk of eye knocks or falls
- Plan for staged return to training and competition
Choosing the right technique
Some sports favour flap‑free or surface approaches to reduce trauma risk.
- Consideration of PRK or SMILE in sports with higher impact to the eyes
- Delay of contact and water sports until healing is secure
- Use of protective sports eyewear even after successful surgery
- Scheduling surgery in the off‑season to allow full recovery
- Clear instructions about when and how to resume different training intensities
