After undergoing LASIK, which corrects refractive errors by reshaping the cornea, patients often ask when they can safely resume driving. Safety is the primary concern, and the timeline depends on mandatory prohibitions and the patient’s specific healing progress. The ultimate decision must be confirmed by the surgeon after a thorough examination.
The Immediate No-Driving Rule
It is mandatory to arrange for a designated driver to take you home following the procedure. You cannot drive immediately after LASIK because your visual perception is compromised and your eyes are extremely sensitive to light.
This immediate restriction is also due to mild sedatives, often administered before the surgery to help you relax. The effects of these sedatives impair coordination and reaction time, making it unsafe to operate a vehicle for several hours.
Furthermore, your vision will be blurry or hazy immediately after the treatment, which is a normal, temporary effect. Patients are also required to wear protective eye shields. The combination of blurry vision, light sensitivity, and lingering medication effects means the prohibition on driving is firm for the first 24 hours.
Meeting the Vision Requirements
The objective assessment for driving clearance occurs during the first post-operative check-up, usually scheduled for the day after the procedure. During this appointment, the surgeon measures your visual acuity using a standard eye chart test.
A common standard for obtaining an unrestricted driver’s license is uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. The surgeon determines if your vision meets or exceeds this required measurement.
If your vision reaches this benchmark and the eye is healing as expected, the doctor will grant medical clearance for you to drive. Many LASIK patients achieve this level of visual acuity within the first 24 hours. You must wait for the surgeon’s official confirmation before driving, as clearance is based on objective measurement, not subjective feeling.
Other Post-LASIK Driving Considerations
While daytime vision may meet the 20/40 requirement quickly, persistent subjective symptoms can still make driving unsafe, particularly after dark. Night driving requires careful consideration because visual disturbances like glare, halos, and starbursts are common temporary side effects of the corneal healing process.
Night Vision Issues
Halos are bright rings that appear around light sources, while starbursts present as scattered rays of light, often making oncoming headlights difficult to manage. These effects are often caused by the pupil dilating in low light conditions. These visual aberrations are typically related to post-operative swelling in the cornea, which gradually subsides over weeks or months. Up to 18 percent of patients reported difficulty driving at night even six months after their surgery.
Dry Eyes and Eye Drops
Dry eyes are another common side effect of LASIK that can temporarily affect vision. The frequent use of medicated or lubricating eye drops can cause momentary blurriness. It is advisable to avoid driving immediately after applying any eye drops until your vision has stabilized. Until any light sensitivity resolves, you should wear sunglasses during the day to ensure comfort and safety while driving in bright conditions.