Swimming can be a great way to stay active and have fun, but it can also be dangerous for your eyes if you have recently undergone an eye procedure such as LASIK or cataract removal. Your eyes will be exposed and vulnerable to bacteria, so it is important to take extra care to avoid infection. With proper care, you can start swimming again after two weeks. Swimmers who wear goggles can swim as soon as two weeks after cataract surgery.
However, it is essential to wait until the eye has had a chance to heal properly. Even with glasses, there is a higher risk of infection immediately after cataract surgery. Dust or particles on glasses can cause serious complications in recovering patients. In addition, glasses do not completely eliminate the risk of water coming into contact with the eyes.
Patients should wait four weeks after cataract surgery before swimming in a pool or natural body of water. Patients can return to swimming with goggles on approximately two weeks after cataract surgery and without goggles approximately four weeks after cataract surgery. If your surgeon recommends that you wait longer, be sure to follow their instructions to avoid complications. When it comes to soaking in hot tubs or swimming, you'll have to wait a bit longer.
Our laser vision correction surgeons recommend that you stay away from these activities for two weeks after LASIK. This will ensure that your eyes heal properly and, at the same time, prevent potential complications. While sitting in a hot tub isn't swimming in and of itself, it's still being submerged in water that harbors bacteria and other vectors of possible infections. Chlorine and other chemicals damage the tear film in the eyes and can cause temporary dryness, discomfort, and redness.
Right after cataract surgery, most people experience blurred or wavy vision, as well as red, bloodshot eyes. Bacteria can also enter the inner part of the eye through the opening of the corneal flap and cause infections that endanger vision. After cataract surgery, laser vision correction and other types of eye procedures, surgeons always tell patients to protect their eyes while they recover due to the risk of infection. This is especially true if older people were smokers, had suffered a previous eye injury, or had spent a lot of time in the sun.
Your eyes are more vulnerable to infection and irritation for a few weeks after surgery, as the cornea is still healing. Cataracts are a common problem in older adults, those who smoke, people with previous eye injuries, or people who have spent a lot of time in the sun. You can still swim in these places but consider taking precautions such as wearing goggles to protect your eyes. You should also avoid smoking, consuming alcohol, doing strenuous physical activities, and rubbing your eyes until your surgeon tells you otherwise.
While wearing glasses will protect your eyes from contact with water, there is still a greater risk of infection after cataract surgery. It is important to follow your surgeon's instructions carefully and take all necessary precautions when swimming after eye surgery. Swimming is an enjoyable activity that can help keep you fit and healthy. However, if you have recently undergone an eye procedure such as LASIK or cataract removal, it is important to take extra precautions when swimming. Wear goggles when swimming two weeks after cataract surgery and wait four weeks before swimming without them.
Avoid hot tubs for two weeks after LASIK and take all necessary precautions when swimming after any type of eye surgery.
