In this article we are going to discuss the fact that more and more athletes are seeking out LASIK eye surgery. This is because the operation helps to sharpen the athlete's visual acuity, thus improving his game performance. However, there is some feeling that LASIK can be risky for someone involved in such a physical occupation. Is this true? Let's discuss the matter.



First, there is no one answer that applies for everyone. Most surgeons will advise that LASIK will be riskier for some than for others. This is because some sports have more physical contact than others, and even within a physical sport (let's say football), there are degrees of physicality (not as much for the kicker, for instance). Of course, the greatest risk is a sport that puts the eye in direct jeopardy. And many sports do this to some degree. For instance, a player's eye could be hit in soccer, baseball, football, and certainly boxing or the martial arts. For this reason, a LASIK doctor normally likes to evaluate each player on a person-to-person basis before recommending whether they should or should not go ahead with the procedure.

In most cases, when a person has LASIK performed, the doctor instructs him to refrain from vigorous activities. In the case of an athlete, the doctor will ask them to refrain from more physical sports for at least two weeks, sometimes more. For this reason, it's often best if the LASIK procedure is done during the off-season.

Before LASIK was an option, there were countless athletes who wore contact lenses or even glasses while they played. Obviously these also carried a risk with them, since an impact to the eye meant the possibility of having glass go into the eye. So in some ways, LASIK surgery might actually be a reduced risk of injury. However, if an athlete gets the surgery done, he still should take steps recommended by the doctor to reduce his risk.

So just what is the biggest risk for those having a LASIK procedure? The biggest risk is the risk of infection. To minimize this possibility, the athlete should stay away from vigorous activity until it's safe to do so. There's also a risk of bacteria or other pollutants entering the eye via sweat or quick movements. This might result in damage to the improved cornea. However, this is not too different from the risk of wearing contact lenses. Seating too much while wearing a lens, for instance, might also cause dirt and seat to get into the eye. Still, the athlete should wait before he gets back into his sport so that the eye can fully heal. Also, it's sometimes helpful for the athlete to talk with someone else involved in the same sport who has had LASIK, then find out what problems he had, and what he has done to stay safe. The biggest key, though, is to follow the doctor's instructions, and in time, you should be able to have better eyesight and a better sports record!