When can I swim 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

Get a date from your surgeon. Scuba diving is off limits for as long as any gas bubble remains in the eye.

Diving is the firm part. AAO states that with an air or gas bubble you cannot fly in an airplane, travel to high altitudes, or scuba dive, because pressure changes make the bubble expand and push eye pressure up.

For pool and open-water swimming, the concern is infection while the eye is still healing. StatPearls notes that after scleral buckle surgery an infected buckle presents with pain, redness, and discharge and often has to be removed, which is a good reason to keep pool and lake water out of a recently operated eye.

AAO, ASRS, and NEI do not publish a specific waiting period in days before swimming after retinal detachment surgery. That makes this a surgeon-specific answer, so ask directly and ask about goggles.

Remember AAO's broader advice to limit activity for several weeks after surgery. Vigorous swimming counts as exercise and falls under the same clearance.

When	Typical guidance
While any gas bubble remains	No scuba diving at all. AAO states this clearly.
Early healing	Keep pool, lake, and hot tub water out of the eye.
Return to swimming	No published day count. Get a specific date and goggle advice from your surgeon.

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.
Scleral Buckling (StatPearls) StatPearls Publishing / NCBI Bookshelf. Accessed 2026-08-25.

When can I swim after retinal detachment surgery?

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