LASIK • Los Angeles
LASIK for Athletes and Active Lifestyles
No more fogged glasses or contacts lost in the surf. Here is how LASIK works for active people, how soon you can get back to your sport, and when another procedure fits better.
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Is LASIK a good choice for athletes?
For most runners, cyclists, golfers, surfers and gym-goers, LASIK works well, and FDA guidance says non-contact activity can usually resume within one to three days. Water and contact take longer: avoid swimming and hot tubs for one to two months and strenuous contact sports for at least four weeks. For combat sports or work with frequent blows to the face, PRK may be a better fit because it does not create a corneal flap.
Why do active people choose LASIK?
- No glasses to fog, slip or break mid-workout
- No contacts drying out in the wind or washing away in the ocean
- Full peripheral vision, without frames at the edge of your view
- No swimming or showering in contact lenses, a habit linked to serious eye infections
- One less thing to pack for races, tournaments and travel
LASIK will not give you better-than-normal vision or faster reactions. What it removes is the hassle and the small risks that come with glasses and contacts in sports.
How soon can you get back to your sport?
Your surgeon sets your timeline, and it depends on how you heal. FDA consumer guidance gives these general markers:
- Walking: usually fine right away.
- Non-contact sports and gym workouts: usually after one to three days. Keep sweat out of your eyes and skip anything that puts pressure on your face.
- Swimming, surfing and hot tubs: wait one to two months. Pools, the ocean and hot tubs can carry infection while the surface heals, and goggles help when you return.
- Strenuous contact sports: wait at least four weeks for sports such as football, boxing or martial arts, and wear protective eyewear when you go back.
- Eye makeup and face products: up to two weeks, or until your doctor says it's fine.
The stage-by-stage details are in our LASIK recovery timeline.
Is the LASIK flap a concern for contact sports?
LASIK creates a thin flap in the cornea. Once healed, it stays in place well for everyday life and most sports. A strong, direct blow to the eye, such as a punch, an elbow or a ball, can still move the flap, even years later, and that needs prompt repair. It is a real consideration if your sport involves regular hits to the face.
Berg-Feinfield creates the flap with a femtosecond laser rather than a blade, which gives the surgeon precise control over its depth and size. That does not make a flap impossible to dislodge, so protective eyewear still matters.
When is PRK or EVO ICL a better fit?
PRK uses the same kind of excimer laser to reshape the cornea, but treats the surface without creating a flap. With no flap to dislodge, it is often recommended for boxers, martial artists, MMA fighters and others who take regular blows to the face. The trade-off is a slower, less comfortable first week while the surface heals. Compare the two in LASIK vs. PRK.
EVO ICL corrects vision with a lens placed inside the eye and leaves the cornea untouched. It can suit higher prescriptions or corneas that are not right for laser treatment, and it has its own risks and recovery rules. See LASIK vs. EVO ICL.
What should you know about your sport?
- Running, cycling, hiking and golf: usually among the quickest returns. Wraparound sunglasses help with wind, dust and glare, especially while your eyes are still dry.
- Swimming, surfing and water polo: the one-to-two-month wait matters. Ocean water and pools can carry organisms that cause eye infections, and goggles are a good habit afterward.
- Tennis, pickleball, basketball and soccer: balls, rackets and elbows can reach the eye. Consider sports eyewear, especially in the first months.
- Boxing, martial arts and MMA: talk with your surgeon about PRK. If you choose LASIK, follow the four-week minimum and use protection where your sport allows it.
- Skiing, climbing and high altitude: UV and wind are stronger at elevation. Use good goggles or sunglasses, and expect dryness to feel worse at first.
Do some jobs and sports have LASIK rules?
Yes. FDA guidance notes that some jobs and military services restrict certain refractive procedures, and requirements change over time. If you are in, or applying to, the military, law enforcement, firefighting or aviation, or you compete at a level with medical rules, check the current requirements with your employer, branch or governing body before you choose a procedure.
How can you protect your results long term?
- Wear sports eyewear made for your sport, especially for racquet and ball sports
- Use sunglasses outdoors to cut UV and wind
- Treat dry eye early, since dryness blurs vision in wind, sun and air conditioning
- Keep your follow-up visits, even when you feel great
If you are not sure LASIK is the right fit, our page on LASIK risks and side effects explains who is at higher risk and why.
Meet your care team
Who leads refractive care at Berg-Feinfield?
Alan M. Berg, MD
Dr. Berg is a board-certified ophthalmologist who leads LASIK and refractive surgery at Berg-Feinfield. He earned his medical degree at Bowman Gray School of Medicine and finished his ophthalmology residency at the University of Southern California, where he remains on the faculty teaching residents.
He has performed more than 50,000 LASIK procedures. Berg-Feinfield has served Los Angeles since 1980 and offers 100% bladeless LASIK through a practice with five offices. He was one of 50 U.S. surgeons chosen for the clinical trials of the Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL). Your own measurements still decide whether surgery is right for you.
What else do Los Angeles patients ask?
How soon can I work out after LASIK?
FDA guidance says non-contact activity can usually resume after one to three days. Start light, keep sweat out of your eyes and avoid anything that puts pressure on your face until your surgeon clears you.
When can I swim or surf after LASIK?
FDA guidance says to avoid swimming and hot tubs for one to two months. Pools and the ocean can carry infection while the eye heals. Use goggles when you return.
Is LASIK safe for contact sports?
Many people who play contact sports have LASIK. FDA guidance says to wait at least four weeks before strenuous contact sports, and a strong blow to the eye can still dislodge a flap later. For combat sports, PRK is often recommended because it creates no flap.
Should a boxer or MMA fighter get LASIK or PRK?
PRK is often the safer choice for combat sports because there is no corneal flap to dislodge. Your surgeon weighs your corneas, prescription and sport before recommending one.
Will LASIK improve my athletic performance?
LASIK does not give you better-than-normal vision. It takes glasses and contacts out of the picture: no fogging, slipping or dry lenses, and full peripheral vision.
Can I get LASIK if I'm in the military or law enforcement?
Possibly, but requirements vary by branch, agency and role, and some restrict certain procedures. Check the current rules before you choose.
Do I need sports goggles after LASIK?
Protective eyewear is a good idea for ball, racquet and contact sports, both during recovery and after. Sunglasses help with UV, wind and dust outdoors.
Which Berg-Feinfield office is convenient for you?
Request an evaluation at one of five offices. Confirm the clinician and location for each appointment when scheduling.
Sherman Oaks
13320 Riverside Dr, Ste 114Monday–Friday
8:30 AM–5:30 PM
Serving San Fernando Valley.
Request a consultationBurbank
2625 W Alameda Ave, Ste 208Monday–Friday
8:30 AM–5:30 PM
Serving Burbank, Glendale and the eastern San Fernando Valley.
Request a consultationBeverly Hills
462 N Linden Dr, Ste 441Monday–Friday
8:30 AM–5:30 PM
Serving Beverly Hills, the Westside and nearby Los Angeles neighborhoods.
Request a consultationArcadia
638 W Duarte Rd, Ste 10Monday–Friday
8:30 AM–5:30 PM
Serving San Gabriel Valley, including Arcadia and nearby Pasadena.
Request a consultationValencia (Santa Clarita)
27335 Tourney Rd, Ste 210Monday–Friday
8:30 AM–5:30 PM
Serving Santa Clarita Valley.
Request a consultationGet back to your sport without glasses or contacts
Request a complimentary LASIK consultation and bring your training and competition calendar so the team can plan the timing with you.
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