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Recovery · Ophthalmology

LASIK / SMILE / ICL recovery timeline

Day-by-day recovery after lasik / smile / icl at Class A international departments — discharge, fly-home clearance, return to work, and full activity.

← Full LASIK / SMILE / ICL guide

Length of stay
5–10 days
Fly-home clearance
Day 3–5
Back to desk work
Week 1
Full activity
Month 3

Day-by-day timeline

  1. When
    Day 0

    SMILE / LASIK

    10–15 min per eye under topical anaesthesia. Patient walks out 30 min after the second eye.

  2. When
    Day 1

    Vision check

    20/20 or better in most cases. Drops 4×/day for 1 week.

  3. When
    Day 3–5

    Fly-home clearance

    Sunglasses on the flight, no eye rubbing.

  4. When
    Week 1

    Back to work

    Screen breaks every 30 min. No swimming or contact sport for 2 weeks.

  5. When
    Month 3

    Stable refraction

    Final acuity assessed; touch-up if required (rare).

Red-flag symptoms

If any of the following occur post-discharge, contact the operating surgeon immediately or present to local emergency services:

  • Sudden vision loss
  • Severe eye pain
  • Yellow or green discharge
  • Halos or glare worsening after week 4

12-month tele-follow-up

  • Day 1, week 1, month 1, month 3 tele-checks

Aftercare on repatriation

Lubricating drops for 2–3 months. Avoid contact lenses lifetime.

Frequently asked

When can I fly home after lasik / smile / icl?
Fly-home clearance is typically issued at Day 3–5. Sunglasses on the flight, no eye rubbing.
When can I return to work after lasik / smile / icl?
Week 1: Screen breaks every 30 min. No swimming or contact sport for 2 weeks.
When can I resume full activity?
Month 3: Final acuity assessed; touch-up if required (rare).
What red-flag symptoms should I watch for?
Sudden vision loss; Severe eye pain; Yellow or green discharge; Halos or glare worsening after week 4. Contact the operating surgeon or local A&E immediately if any occur.

Plan your lasik / smile / icl pathway

We'll match you with two Class A hospital options and return line-by-line all-in pricing in 5 business days.

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