When can I exercise after retinal detachment surgery?

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.

Short answer

Expect several weeks of limited activity. Walking usually returns first, and your surgeon decides when harder exercise and contact sports are safe.

AAO's retinal detachment guidance says to limit activity for several weeks and that your ophthalmologist will give specific guidance on getting back to normal. That is the published position and it deliberately avoids a single date, because the right answer depends on the repair and on your retina.

While you are positioning, exercise is off the table. AAO describes positioning as applying while you stand, sit, eat, walk, and sleep, so gentle walking in position is usually the ceiling.

The underlying worry is re-detachment and pressure. StatPearls notes that proliferative vitreoretinopathy, the most common cause of surgical failure, occurs in roughly 8 to 10 percent of primary repairs, and describes raised intraocular pressure as a known issue with gas tamponade. Straining and impact are the things surgeons want to keep off a freshly repaired retina.

Contact sports, martial arts, racquet sports, and anything with a real chance of a blow to the eye deserve a separate conversation, especially after a scleral buckle. Ask about protective eyewear when you ask about timing.

When	Typical guidance
First days	Rest. Positioning comes first if gas was used.
During positioning	Gentle walking in the assigned position only.
Several weeks after surgery	AAO advises limited activity for several weeks. Add intensity only with surgeon clearance.
Contact or impact sports	Wait for explicit clearance and ask about protective eyewear.

Call your surgeon now if you notice any of these

A sudden burst of many new floaters, new flashing lights, or a dark shadow or gray curtain in your field of vision. NEI calls these signs of a medical emergency and AAO lists them as reasons to seek immediate care
A sudden decrease or loss of vision, or vision that was improving and then clearly gets worse
Pain that keeps increasing rather than settling, or pain not relieved by your prescribed drops
Signs of very high eye pressure: a deep hard ache with nausea or vomiting, halos around lights, or severe pain. StatPearls lists raised intraocular pressure as a known complication of gas tamponade
Signs of infection or buckle trouble: worsening redness, thick discharge, and increasing pain. StatPearls notes buckle extrusion or infection presents with pain, redness, and discharge
New or worsening double vision, which StatPearls attributes to mechanical muscle restriction or ischemia after buckling and which has treatment options
Any planned anesthesia while you still have a gas bubble. Tell the anesthesia team you have intraocular gas and that nitrous oxide must not be used. ASRS states nitrous gas anesthesia should be strictly avoided when a gas bubble has been used
Any planned flight, high-altitude trip, or dive before your surgeon confirms the gas bubble is gone. AAO warns this can cause severe pain, permanent vision loss, or even blindness

These warning signs after retinal detachment surgery 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: National Eye Institute (NIH); American Academy of Ophthalmology; StatPearls Publishing / NCBI Bookshelf; American Society of Retina Specialists

Sources

Detached Retina Treatment American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Positioning After Retinal Surgery American Academy of Ophthalmology. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Retinal Detachment (StatPearls) StatPearls Publishing / NCBI Bookshelf. Accessed 2026-08-25.
Agents for Vitreous Tamponade (StatPearls) StatPearls Publishing / NCBI Bookshelf. Accessed 2026-08-25.

When can I exercise after retinal detachment surgery?

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