Eye Surgery Recovery Korea: Aftercare After LASIK, LASEK, SMILE & ICL (2026)

1. Rest your eyes for the first 4-to-6 hours after surgery. Keep your eyes closed as much as possible. Sleep is encouraged — healing accelerates during sleep.
2. Wear the protective eye shields while sleeping for at least 1 week to prevent accidental rubbing or pressure on the corneal flap.
3. Do not rub your eyes for at least 4 weeks. This is the single most important instruction — rubbing can dislodge the corneal flap, requiring emergency intervention.
4. Use prescribed eye drops on the exact schedule provided: antibiotic drops (to prevent infection), anti-inflammatory/steroid drops (to control healing response), and preservative-free artificial tears (for lubrication). Do not skip doses even if your eyes feel fine.
5. Expect temporary dry eye, mild burning, tearing, light sensitivity, and slightly hazy or fluctuating vision for the first few days to weeks. These are normal and improve progressively.
6. Avoid water contact with your eyes for at least 1 week — no swimming, hot tubs, or water splashing directly into the eyes. Shower carefully with eyes closed.
7. No eye makeup for at least 1 week. When resuming, use new products to minimize infection risk. Avoid eyeliner on the waterline for 2 weeks.
8. Wear sunglasses outdoors for at least 1-to-2 weeks — your eyes will be more light-sensitive during healing.
9. Avoid dusty, smoky, or windy environments for the first week.
10. Night vision disturbances (halos, starbursts around lights) are common in the first few weeks and typically improve as the cornea heals.
11. Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments — typically at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months post-surgery.

1. LASEK/PRK recovery is slower than LASIK — expect more discomfort and blurrier vision in the first 3-to-5 days as the surface epithelium regenerates. This is normal and expected. Pain typically peaks on days 2-to-3.
2. A bandage contact lens will be placed on your eye after surgery to protect the healing surface. Do not remove it yourself — your doctor will remove it at your follow-up visit (typically 3-to-5 days).
3. Use prescribed eye drops strictly on schedule — antibiotics, steroids, and preservative-free artificial tears. The steroid drop course is often longer for LASEK/PRK than LASIK (sometimes several weeks) — follow the tapering schedule precisely to prevent haze formation.
4. Manage pain with prescribed medication. Cold compresses over closed eyes can help. Some patients find keeping eyes closed and resting in a dark room most comfortable during the first 2-to-3 days.
5. Do not rub your eyes — especially while the bandage lens is in place.
6. Vision will be hazy and fluctuating for 1-to-2 weeks as the epithelium regenerates. Clear vision develops more gradually than with LASIK — be patient.
7. UV protection is critical after LASEK/PRK. Wear UV-blocking sunglasses outdoors for at least 6-to-12 months. UV exposure during healing can contribute to corneal haze.
8. Avoid swimming, hot tubs, and water contact with eyes for at least 4 weeks.
9. Flying home: Airline travel is generally possible within 1-to-3 days for LASEK, but use artificial tears frequently during the flight as cabin air is very dry. Confirm with your surgeon before flying.

1. SMILE recovery is generally faster than LASEK and involves less dry eye than LASIK because no corneal flap is created. However, the small incision site still requires protection during healing.
2. Do not rub your eyes for at least 2-to-4 weeks. Wear protective shields while sleeping for the first week.
3. Use prescribed eye drops on schedule — antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drops, and artificial tears. Dry eye is typically less severe than after LASIK but still occurs.
4. Vision may be slightly hazy for the first 1-to-2 days and continues to sharpen over the first week. Some fluctuation is normal.
5. Avoid water contact with eyes for at least 1 week. Swimming and hot tubs are restricted for 2 weeks.
6. No eye makeup for 1 week. Sunglasses recommended outdoors for at least 1-to-2 weeks.
7. Contact sports can typically resume after 2 weeks — earlier than LASIK due to the absence of a flap. Confirm with your surgeon.
8. Attend all follow-up appointments as scheduled.

1. ICL is an intraocular procedure — a lens is implanted inside the eye. This means infection prevention is especially critical. Follow the prescribed eye drop schedule (antibiotics, steroids, artificial tears) without exception.
2. Do not rub or press on your eyes for at least 2 weeks. Wear the provided protective eye shield while sleeping for 1 week.
3. Avoid getting water in your eyes for at least 1-to-2 weeks. Shower carefully with eyes closed. No swimming or hot tubs for 2-to-4 weeks.
4. Avoid bending over, heavy lifting, or straining for the first week — these increase intraocular pressure, which can affect lens positioning.
5. Vision typically clears very quickly — many patients report noticeably improved vision within hours. Some mild haze or light sensitivity in the first 1-to-2 days is normal.
6. Attend your follow-up appointments rigorously — typically at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Your surgeon will check intraocular pressure and lens positioning at each visit.
7. Report any sudden increase in eye pain, sudden vision changes, or halos around lights immediately — these may indicate pressure changes requiring urgent attention.
8. No eye makeup for 1-to-2 weeks. Use new products when resuming.
9. ICL is reversible — the lens can be removed or replaced if needed. This is a key advantage but does not reduce the importance of careful aftercare.

1. Wear the protective eye shield while sleeping for at least 1 week to prevent accidental rubbing or pressure.
2. Use prescribed eye drops exactly as directed — typically a regimen of antibiotic, steroid, and NSAID drops for 4-to-6 weeks. Do not stop early even if vision feels fine.
3. Do not rub or press on the operated eye. Avoid touching the eye area as much as possible for the first 2 weeks.
4. Avoid bending over, heavy lifting (over 5 kg/10 lbs), and straining for at least 2 weeks — these increase intraocular pressure.
5. Vision may be blurry, hazy, or color-shifted for the first few days — this is normal as the eye adjusts to the new intraocular lens.
6. Avoid water in the eye for at least 1 week. Shower carefully. No swimming for 2-to-4 weeks.
7. No eye makeup for at least 1-to-2 weeks.
8. Avoid driving until your surgeon confirms that your vision meets legal requirements — typically 1-to-2 weeks.
9. Report any sudden decrease in vision, increasing pain, flashing lights, or new floaters immediately.
10. A new glasses prescription (if needed) is typically finalized at 4-to-6 weeks once vision has fully stabilized.

1. Apply cold compresses gently to the eyelid area for the first 48-to-72 hours: 10-to-15 minutes on, 10-to-15 minutes off. Use soft gel packs or damp gauze — never apply ice directly to the delicate eyelid skin.
2. Keep your head elevated while sleeping for the first 1-to-2 weeks — use extra pillows. This significantly reduces swelling.
3. Expect bruising, swelling, tightness, and temporarily blurred or watery vision. The eyes may feel dry or gritty. These symptoms peak at 48-to-72 hours and gradually improve.
4. Use prescribed eye drops and ointments as directed — typically lubricating drops during the day and antibiotic ointment at the incision site at night.
5. Do not rub or touch your eyes. Avoid any activity that increases blood flow to the face (bending over, straining, crying excessively) for the first 1-to-2 weeks.
6. No contact lenses for at least 2 weeks after surgery. Wear glasses instead.
7. No eye makeup for at least 2 weeks. When resuming, use new products to minimize infection risk.
8. Protect your eyes from sun and wind — wear dark sunglasses with UV protection whenever outdoors for at least 2-to-4 weeks.
9. Avoid strenuous exercise for 2-to-3 weeks. Walking is fine from day 2.
10. Scars along the eyelid crease will initially appear pink or red and gradually fade to a fine, nearly invisible line over 3-to-6 months.

1. Sudden decrease or loss of vision in the treated eye — seek emergency evaluation immediately.
2. Severe eye pain not relieved by prescribed medication.
3. Flashing lights, a sudden increase in floaters, or a dark shadow/curtain across part of your vision — may indicate retinal detachment.
4. Heavy or increasing discharge (especially yellow or green) — may indicate infection.
5. Significant increase in redness that worsens after the first 2-to-3 days rather than improving.
6. Persistent or worsening halos, double vision, or glare beyond the expected initial recovery period.
7. After ICL or cataract surgery: sudden onset of halos or rainbow-colored rings around lights may indicate a pressure spike requiring urgent treatment.
8. After eyelid surgery: inability to close the eye fully, or significant asymmetry in eyelid position — contact your surgeon.

Your MTK coordinator can assist with urgent communication between you and your eye surgeon in any language, at any time. In a medical emergency in Korea, call 119.