Laser vision correction — how long after the surgery is it allowed to return to work?

Patients who are planning to undergo a laser vision correction surgery often ask us when they can return to their everyday work duties following the procedure. There is no definite answer to this as it depends on many factors, including the nature of work and working conditions as well as the correction method by which the surgery will be performed.

We recommend the patients to reserve at least about a week for the rest, also due to the first follow-up appointment which is scheduled a day (SBK LASIK method) or a week (TransPRK or LASEK method) after the procedure. Whether the time necessary for the eyes to regenerate will be extended will be determined by the results of the preliminary qualifying examination.

Office, mental work

Return to office work is much faster than in the case of physical work and it is usually possible after approximately 2-7 days after the procedure. This period depends on the method used by the ophthalmic surgeon.

In the case of the SBK LASIK method, the post-operative sensations usually subside the next day. If the procedure was performed using the LASEK or TransPRK method, the regeneration will be slightly longer, lasting 4-7 days on average. The patient will feel very hypersensitive to artificial light, which inevitably will not allow them to look at the screen for a long time.

After returning to office work, remember to moisturise your eyes frequently (use artificial tears) and take breaks to look into the distance - 5 minutes per each hour of work. Vision after laser vision correction may tire more quickly when reading. It usually takes longer to adapt to close-range vision than to seeing in the distance - up to about a month.

The above rules also apply to students, who spend long hours writing assignments on the computer or reading small fonts in textbooks.

Physical work

According to the post-operative recommendations, patients should avoid dusty environments for up to a month after the laser vision correction procedure. This rule does not apply to any particular correction method and it should be rigorously followed after the surgery regardless of the method applied.

Returning to work, therefore, largely depends on the factors that prevail around – whether the working environment is dusty or whether the work involves only heavy lifting. In the latter case, the laser correction method is significant as it determines how long the convalescence period will last. Depending on the method the regeneration will take between 14 days in the case of TransPRK or LASEK and 30 days in the case of SBK LASIK.

Sick note or certificate from a doctor

The patient is entitled to ZUS ZLA sick leave for the convalescence period. If the patient requires a sick note, the doctor should be informed about this as early as at the qualification stage, in the doctor’s office. The length of the sick leave will be determined at the preliminary qualifying examination.

If the patient does not work and has the status of a student, the ophthalmic surgeon performing the procedure will issue an appropriate certificate attesting to what procedure the patient has undergone and what the post-operative recommendations are (e.g. exemption from physical education classes). It also applies to patients who work, but do not want to take advantage of the sick leave because their employer agrees to a temporary change of position or exemption from certain duties.

In order to minimise the time of absence from work, we offer a qualifying examination and surgery on the same day – a one-day procedure. You can make an appointment even during your coffee break! The only thing that you need to do is to submit a filled-in online preliminary qualification form, and we will reply as soon as possible, providing you with information regarding potential contraindications and available dates.

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