Regular swimmers can still be good candidates for laser eye surgery, but water exposure needs to be carefully managed during recovery.
Short‑term restrictions
In the early weeks, avoiding pools and open water protects the healing cornea from infection and irritation.
- No swimming or hot tubs until your surgeon confirms the surface has healed
- Later, return to the pool with tight‑fitting goggles
- Extra caution with lakes and sea water, which carry more bacteria
- Avoid rubbing your eyes after swimming
- Use lubricating drops afterwards if they feel gritty or dry
Long‑term considerations for frequent swimmers
Once fully healed, most people swim as before, often more comfortably without lenses.
- Benefit of avoiding contact‑lens related infections in pools
- Continued use of goggles to shield from chlorine and waves
- Awareness that very occasional irritation can still occur with heavy exposure
- Prompt review if redness, pain, or blurred vision follows swimming
- Planning surgery away from key competitions or training blocks
