LASIK Month 1: 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.

At one month, vision for most people is close to its final quality but is not officially settled. The FDA says it may take three to six months for vision to stabilize after surgery. StatPearls says visual aberrations such as glare, halos, starbursts, haze, and reduced contrast sensitivity tend to stabilize three to six months after the procedure, so ongoing night glare at one month is within the expected range.

Dryness is usually better but often still present. StatPearls reports dry eye at around 60 percent of patients at one month, managed with artificial tears and sometimes punctal plugs until the corneal nerves regenerate. If dryness is not improving, that is worth raising at a follow-up visit rather than waiting it out.

The month mark is roughly when the main activity restrictions expire. The Academy says no strenuous exercise and contact sports for up to 1 month, and the FDA says strenuous contact sports such as boxing, football, and karate should not be attempted for at least four weeks after surgery. Swimming may still be off limits, since the FDA extends that to 1 to 2 months. Enhancement is not on the table yet. The FDA says wait until your eye measurements are consistent for two consecutive visits at least 3 months apart before any re-operation.

Usually normal at this stage

mild dryness that responds to artificial tears
some night glare or halos that are still fading
small day to day variation in sharpness
occasional need to blink to clear vision

Still off-limits

check with your surgeon before restarting contact sports, the FDA says at least four weeks
confirm swimming and hot tubs with your surgeon, the FDA says 1 to 2 months
use eye protection for any sport with blunt impact risk, long term
do not schedule an enhancement until your measurements are stable across two visits at least 3 months apart

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.
When to Resume Exercise After an Eye Surgery or Injury American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) StatPearls Publishing, NCBI Bookshelf. Accessed 2026-08-25.

LASIK Month 1: What to Expect

Usually normal at this stage

Still off-limits

More on LASIK recovery

Sources