If you’re an athlete, it’s likely that you’ve at least considered if LASIK is for you. After all, having an active lifestyle can be frustrating if you have glasses or contacts!
If you’re considering LASIK, you should know that not every sport is safe for LASIK. Want to know if LASIK is safe for athletes? Just keep reading to find out!
Will LASIK Up Your Game?
At a glance, LASIK can seem like a dream come true. Who wouldn’t want to live a life that’s free of glasses or contacts? If you play a sport or consider yourself an athlete, it’s a little more complicated.
Before you even figure out if you play the right sport for LASIK, you have to be a good candidate for LASIK! Like most surgeries, LASIK is not right for everyone.
A good LASIK candidate should be over the age of 18, have a strong enough prescription, and no eye injuries. These are only a few of the required factors for approval as a LASIK candidate.
If you qualify for those factors, now you have to take the sport that you play into consideration as well. If you play a contact sport like football, soccer, boxing, or martial arts, you have a risk of getting hit in the eyes.
LASIK is not a magical procedure that instantly fixes your vision. It involves creating a flap in the cornea and removing a small amount of corneal tissue.
While recovering, the flap is extremely fragile! If you were to get hit in the head or eye while recovering, you could damage the flap. Damage to the flap could mean vision loss or severe complications after LASIK.
Why LASIK For Athletes May Be Dangerous
Another risk factor for athletes to consider is sweat and infection. Sweat seems innocent enough, but if you get sweat in an eye recovering from LASIK, it could be bad news. Getting sweat in your eyes could lead to infection in your healing eyes.
LASIK causes trauma to the eyes and can take several months to heal. During recovery, your eyes are more sensitive and vulnerable to bacteria and infection.
Even something like taking a shower can be dangerous if you’re recovering from LASIK! Water can carry bacteria and cause an infection.
When Should I Get LASIK?
If you’re an athlete and you know LASIK is right for you, get your procedure done during your off-season. This will give your eyes enough time to heal before you return to heavy contact sports.
LASIK is a life-changing procedure, but it may need a little planning to fit it into your schedule. After the procedure, you’ll need to take it easy. For the first week, avoid working out at the gym or exercising. For the first month, avoid any pools or large bodies of water.
Getting chlorine or seawater in your eyes while they are healing is not a good idea! After the first month, you should be able to get back to most of your normal activities. Your LASIK surgeon will let you know when you are safe to return to any contact sports that you play.
Ready to find out if LASIK is right for you? Contact the experts at Loden Vision Centers for a LASIK consultation today!
