LASIK Days 2 to 7: What to Expect

General information about typical recovery, not medical advice. Every eye and every surgery is different, and your surgeon's instructions override anything on this page. Read our full disclaimer.

Through the first week, the raw feeling settles down and dryness takes over as the main complaint. The FDA says the early symptoms of burning, tearing, haze, light sensitivity, glare, starbursts, halos, and redness should improve considerably within the first few days after surgery, and that you should plan on taking a few days off work until these symptoms subside.

Vision usually keeps sharpening but is not steady yet. The Academy says it is normal to have some blurry vision or to notice your vision changing for several weeks or even months after laser eye surgery, along with dry eyes, glare, or halos around lights. Many people find vision is best in the morning and drifts later in the day as the eyes dry out.

This is also the window where a few specific complications show up, which is why the drops and the follow-up visit matter. StatPearls reports that diffuse lamellar keratitis, a sterile inflammation in the flap interface, usually appears one to two days after surgery in as many as 1 in 50 cases, presents with blurriness and a foreign body sensation, and typically resolves with appropriate corticosteroid treatment after about one week. StatPearls also reports infectious keratitis in less than 0.1 percent of patients, with atypical mycobacterial infections tending to appear one to two weeks after surgery.

Usually normal at this stage

dryness that comes and goes through the day
vision that is clearer in the morning and hazier at night
halos, glare, or starbursts around headlights and streetlights
occasional grittiness or a foreign body feeling
a red patch on the white of the eye that is slowly fading
mild light sensitivity

Still off-limits

no rubbing the eye
no swimming, hot tubs, or whirlpools
no eye makeup, lotion, or cream around the eye, the FDA says wait up to two weeks
no contact sports
use artificial tears as directed and keep prescribed drops going
call the surgeon rather than waiting if pain increases or vision gets worse

Call your surgeon now if you notice any of these

Severe eye pain, or pain that gets worse instead of better, at any point after surgery
Vision or any other symptom that is getting worse instead of better, rather than improving over the first days
Sudden decrease or sudden loss of vision in either eye
Any new or unusual symptom at any point after surgery, which the FDA says could signal a problem that may lead to loss of vision if not treated early enough
Signs the corneal flap may have moved, such as a sudden sharp foreign body or scratching sensation, sudden blurring, tearing, and light sensitivity, especially after rubbing, bumping, or being hit in the eye. The FDA warns that rubbing the eye could dislodge the flap, and StatPearls lists flap dislodgement among corneal flap complications reported in about 0.1 to 4 percent of patients
Signs of diffuse lamellar keratitis, a sterile inflammation in the layer under the flap, which StatPearls says usually appears one to two days after surgery in as many as 1 in 50 cases and shows up as blurriness and a foreign body sensation. It typically resolves with appropriate steroid treatment after about a week, but it needs the surgeon to see it and change your drops
Signs of infection, such as increasing redness, discharge, worsening light sensitivity, and dropping vision. StatPearls reports infectious keratitis in less than 0.1 percent of patients, with atypical mycobacteria typically appearing one to two weeks after surgery
Any eye injury or blunt trauma to the operated eye, at any time after LASIK, because the flap interface never regains full corneal strength
New floaters, flashes of light, or a curtain or shadow across part of your vision. StatPearls lists retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, and posterior vitreous detachment among rare complications occurring in less than 0.1 percent of patients

These warning signs after LASIK can point to problems that need same-day care. Do not wait for your next scheduled visit. If you cannot reach your surgeon's office, use their on-call line, or go to an emergency room.

Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration; StatPearls Publishing, NCBI Bookshelf; Journal of Refractive Surgery

Sources

What should I expect before, during, and after surgery? U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Laser Surgery Recovery American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) StatPearls Publishing, NCBI Bookshelf. Accessed 2026-08-25.

LASIK Days 2 to 7: What to Expect

Usually normal at this stage

Still off-limits

More on LASIK recovery

Sources