Can you touch your eyes after LASIK?
Ava Mcdaniel
Updated on February 28, 2026
It's very hard to avoid touching your eyes, but you should not touch or rub your eyes for at least two weeks after your LASIK procedure. Rubbing or touching your eyes can interfere with the recovery process.
What happens if you touch your eye after LASIK?
Eye protection is especially important at this time, as the flap created in your cornea during surgery is now re-attaching as part of the body's natural healing process. Rubbing or touching the eyes at this time could cause the flap to become dislodged, interrupting the healing process.What happens if you rub your eye a week after LASIK?
Rubbing or touching the eye at this time could cause the flap to become displaced, hindering the healing process and having an adverse effect on your vision. Though this complication is rather rare, it should still be considered and avoided through proper after-surgery care methods.Can you touch up LASIK?
A LASIK touch up, also known as an enhancement, is commonly done for patients who experience vision deterioration after surgery. Other than vision deterioration, a touch up may be done for surface ablation issues or epithelial ingrowth concerns.Can you ruin your eyes after LASIK?
But some can require more surgery or can cause permanent damage. Some risks of laser eye surgery are: Permanent dry eye. Halos, glare, or double vision, making it hard to drive at night.What if I rub my eye after laser eye surgery?
Can I get LASIK twice?
Is it possible to have LASIK surgery twice? The short answer is yes, though this is usually only done 5 – 10 years after the initial treatment. However, rest assured that LASIK offers long-term vision correction, and very few people require a second session.How do I know if my LASIK flap moved?
In the very unlikely event that your LASIK flap has moved, you will definitely know it. A flap dislocation would cause notable pain, discomfort, excessive watering in the eye, and/or blurred vision.How long after LASIK can I rub my eyes?
You should not rub your eyes for 2 months after LASIK and PRK. You do not want to displace the corneal flap in LASIK or loosen the corneal epithelium in PRK.How long after LASIK can you get a touch up?
The surgeon will likely wait at least 3 months following the surgery to decide if a touch-up might be warranted.How many years does LASIK last?
While the effects of LASIK surgery are permanent, the benefits can decrease over time. For most patients, the results of LASIK will last a lifetime. About 10-12% of patients nationwide will need an enhancement surgery because of anatomical changes to the eye/eyes.How long after LASIK Can I see 20 20?
During a LASIK procedure, a laser is used to change the shape of one or both corneas to improve vision. According to the American Refractive Surgery Council, more than 90% of LASIK patients achieve 20/20 vision or better after 2 to 3 months of post-surgery recovery.Can I rub 3 weeks after LASIK?
Although it is advised that you should not rub your eyes if you have undergone LASIK surgery, you should wait at least for 2-3 weeks. This is the time required for your cornea to heal and get back to normal.What happens if you accidentally rub your eyes after PRK?
If you accidentally rub your eyes after PRK there is really no need to worry unless you knock the bandage contact lens. If the contact lens is moved or knocked out, you will know it!Can I sneeze after LASIK?
Sneezing, blinking, coughing or any other involuntary movement will not affect the outcome of the LASIK procedure.Does the flap heal after LASIK?
This flap serves as a protective covering for the area of the eye that has been operated on, and thus facilitates rapid healing. The corneal flap begins healing immediately after the LASIK procedure. In fact, with the use of a LASIK flap, the corneal tissue can be as much as 90% healed within 24 hours.Can I get LASIK again after 10 years?
Most Patients Only Need LASIK OncePatients with vision that's changed several years after LASIK could undergo LASIK again. The first step is to contact the practice that originally performed your procedure. You'll need another LASIK consultation. This ensures your surgeon finds a second procedure necessary.