LASEK eye surgery (also called PRK) can seem intimidating, as all eye surgery can, but most patients feel it is worth it for better vision and quality of life.
If you are considering LASEK, you probably have one or more of the following questions:
Topic | Most common questions about LASEK |
|---|---|
Recovery | How long will recovery take? How soon can I return to work and leisure activities? |
Outcomes | What is the success rate? Is it better than LASIK or SMILE? |
Precautions | What precautions do I need to take? |
Risks and complications | What are the possible complications? How can I reduce my risks? |
This page answers each of these in turn.
LASEK recovery is slower than LASIK because the corneal surface must heal again after treatment. The first few days are usually the most uncomfortable, while vision continues to improve over the following weeks and months (Shortt et al., 2013 [6]).
DIRECT ANSWER
Most LASEK and PRK patients feel their worst in the first 3 to 4 days while the eye's surface layer is regrowing. Vision is usually noticeably blurry for one to two weeks, and many people return to office-based work within 5 to 7 days. From there, vision gradually sharpens, with the final result typically settling over the following weeks, around the three-month mark. Healing speed varies from person to person, which is why your surgeon reviews you at set points rather than relying on a single fixed recovery date.
The full LASEK recovery process takes several months, although the most demanding part is concentrated in the first week or two. You will visit your eye doctor at set points, and you can expect soreness, pain, discomfort and bloodshot eyes during the first few days of healing.
LASEK has a slower visual recovery than LASIK (which typically improves vision the next day), which is worth weighing up if you are exploring your options. Healing time also differs from person to person, and most people plan to be away from work for around five to seven days after treatment.
LASEK recovery has two stages. The first is the initial healing period, when the surface skin layer closes, discomfort settles and you begin returning to normal activities. The second is the slower process of your vision becoming clearer and more stable.
Time after LASEK | What you may experience |
|---|---|
First 24 hours | Watering, soreness, grittiness, light sensitivity and blurred vision. |
Days 2–4 | Discomfort is usually at its strongest early on, then begins to ease as the surface heals over. You usually notice reduced pain on day 3. This is when the protective bandage contact lens is doing its work. |
Days 4–7 | The eyes should feel more comfortable, but vision may still be blurry or fluctuate. |
Weeks 1–2 | Vision continues improving, although glare, light sensitivity and variable sharpness can still occur. |
Weeks 2–6 | Most day-to-day activities should feel increasingly normal, though vision may still fluctuate. |
1–3 months | Vision is usually becoming much clearer and more stable, and best results are typically reached in this window. |
3–6 months | Fine changes can continue as the eyes fully settle. |
These are general timings rather than fixed deadlines. One person may recover more quickly than another without either recovery being abnormal.
KEY DATA POINT
The soreness or pain in the first few days after surface laser surgery is real and expected. It comes from the healing of the corneal surface layer (the epithelium), which typically closes over in about three to four days beneath a protective bandage contact lens. The American Academy of Ophthalmology's clinical report on managing pain after PRK describes the standard measures used to keep patients comfortable during this period, including a bandage lens, anti-inflammatory drops and oral pain relief (Steigleman et al., 2023 [7]).
After your LASEK procedure, your eyes will likely feel inflamed and sore, because the surgery removes the surface epithelial skin cells, exposing underlying nerve endings. This surface layer must heal, and you may feel some pain until it regrows. This discomfort or pain is normal. Your eyes will likely feel gritty, as if something is in them. Some people also notice a headache.
Your surgeon will prescribe eye drops, anti-inflammatories and pain relief to ease the discomfort. It is normal to want to rub your eye after LASEK, but you should avoid it wherever possible while the surface heals. Your eye will produce a rapid covering of skin, but these initial cells are rather weak and can be dislodged fairly easily with rubbing.
You will need someone to collect you after your procedure. Your eyes will be light-sensitive, so wear sunglasses outdoors. The first 48 to 72 hours are typically the most uncomfortable, so it is sensible to keep your calendar clear for the first few days to let your eyes settle.
The discomfort begins to subside after the first few days, though vision may still be blurry and light-sensitive for several days after LASEK. Many patients find that the pain is reducing by the third day after surgery.
Vision then improves gradually over the following weeks, and many people can return to office-based work around four to five days after surgery.
Daylight can still feel strong on the eyes, so sunglasses are useful for the first couple of weeks. You will be given an eye shield to protect your eyes while you sleep, and your surgeon will advise how long to wear it.
You will be given eye drops to keep the eyes comfortable, support healing and reduce the risk of infection. Use these exactly as prescribed for the weeks after LASEK to help everything settle smoothly.
Driving depends heavily on clear vision, so avoid it until your optometrist confirms you meet the standard. Many patients reach the legal driving vision standard within a week or two of treatment, but this varies.
Slightly blurred vision can last for several weeks after LASEK and will slowly improve. You may also notice halos and starbursts around lights during early recovery. Your vision continues to sharpen as your eyes heal, so you shouldn't be concerned if it isn't fully settled at two weeks.
Follow-up checks with your surgeon or optometrist are an important part of recovery and let the clinic monitor your healing and vision over the following months. Best results after surface laser surgery are usually reached within one to three months, with fine changes continuing after that (O'Brart et al., 2014 [5]).
LASEK recovery varies between patients, so treat any timeline as a guide, not a guarantee.
Factors that can affect LASEK recovery include:
Factors that can affect LASEK recovery time | |
|---|---|
1 | Your starting prescription |
2 | The condition of the eye surface before treatment |
3 | Dry eye or eyelid inflammation |
4 | Your individual healing response |
5 | Other eye-health factors identified during your assessment |
6 | How closely you follow your prescribed drops, eye protection and follow-up schedule |
This is why comparing your recovery with somebody else's can be misleading. A slower first week doesn't automatically mean something is wrong.
KEY DATA POINT
Dry eye is common in the early weeks and usually settles. In a large prospective cohort, chronic dry eye was reported in 5.0% of surface-treatment (PRK) patients at 12 months, meaning about 95% were free of chronic dry eye by a year (Bower et al., 2015 [1]). Treating any existing dryness before surgery helps keep this risk low.
PRK and LASEK have been performed for more than 30 years and are well-established surface laser procedures. When experienced specialists at a reputable clinic perform them, the risk of complications is low. It is still surgery, though, and should be approached with proper assessment and care.
At our specialist centre, owned and led by our Medical Director and chief surgeon, you benefit from the same team caring for you at each visit. Our surgeons are available to discuss any concerns, and the clinic focuses solely on high-quality clinical care.
While many patients at our centre choose LASIK, surface treatment (PRK/LASEK) may be a better option for some people. For example, people with thinner corneas or those active in contact sports such as mixed martial arts may benefit from a flap-free procedure.
KEY DATA POINT
For suitable patients, the final vision after LASEK/PRK is broadly comparable to LASIK. Comparative reviews find similar refractive outcomes between the two; the main, consistent difference is that LASIK recovers faster and is more comfortable in the first days, because it does not leave the surface to heal (Shortt et al., 2013 [6]; Kuryan et al., 2017 [2]). Long-term studies of surface ablation show that well-selected treatments remain stable and effective over many years (O'Brart et al., 2014 [5]; Taneri et al., 2022 [8]).
Is LASEK better than LASIK or SMILE? For a suitable patient, final vision is broadly similar across all three modern methods; meaningful differences are in recovery and which eyes each suits. LASIK recovers fastest. SMILE is a flap-free keyhole technique offered at some clinics. LASEK/PRK is the surface option that keeps the most corneal tissue and avoids a flap, which is why it can be the safer choice for thinner corneas or contact-sport athletes. The right procedure for you is the one your cornea and lifestyle point to, which is what your consultation is for.
Any laser eye surgery, including LASEK, leaves the eyes sensitive and in need of protection during recovery. Daily life may be more awkward for the first few days, but these simple precautions help healing go smoothly and reduce your LASEK risks.
Your eyes will feel sensitive for the first few days, so wear sunglasses outdoors and in brightly lit areas. It also helps to limit phone and TV screen use in the first few days, as screens can feel straining while vision is blurry. Audiobooks and podcasts are a good way to pass the time while you rest your eyes. Most people find they can use a phone comfortably after two to three days and laptops or other screens after about a week, though this varies.
Avoid eye makeup, face wash and facial products around the eyes for the first week after LASEK, as these can irritate a healing surface or introduce infection. After the first seven days, when you do use facial products or makeup, keep them away from the eye area for at least two weeks, or as your clinic advises.
Your vision may improve within the first week, but driving is a separate decision. Your clinic will confirm when it is appropriate, and for many patients this is within one to two weeks.
Don't drive just because a certain number of days has passed. Return to driving only once your vision meets the legal standard and your optometrist has confirmed it is safe.
Avoid exercise for the first week. You can usually resume light, low-impact activity after the first week or two, while higher-intensity exercise and anything that risks a knock to the eye is generally left until around three to four weeks, or as advised. Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs and dusty environments until your clinic gives the go-ahead. We recommend 2 weeks for normal swimming pools and 4 weeks for hot tubs and saunas.
For the first few days, take care to keep water, soap and shampoo out of the eyes. Many people find a bath easier than a shower to begin with, or simply keep your face away from the direct stream so the healing surface isn't disturbed.
Your exact instructions will be explained before you leave the clinic, but the main principles are simple:
✓ Use your prescribed drops exactly as directed.
✓ Do not rub or press on your eyes.
✓ Wear your eye shield for as long as advised.
✓ Keep makeup, dirty water and other irritants away from the eyes.
✓ Attend your planned follow-up appointments.
✓ Contact the clinic if recovery seems to be worsening rather than improving.
Usually normal in early recovery | Contact the clinic promptly |
|---|---|
Watering and a gritty feeling | Severe or increasing pain |
Light sensitivity | Vision getting worse rather than gradually better |
Blurred or fluctuating vision | Increasing redness, swelling or discharge |
Discomfort that eases as healing progresses | A sudden deterioration after things had been improving |
Most symptoms in the first few days are expected effects of surface healing, not complications. If something worsens rather than improves, contact the clinic rather than wait.
LASEK reshapes the cornea, so, as with any surgery, recovery carries a level of risk you should understand before making an informed decision. Complications are uncommon, but they are possible.
Infection after laser eye surgery is uncommon. Because LASEK and PRK leave the corneal surface to heal over the first few days, surface treatments carry a somewhat higher infection risk than LASIK. That's why your antibiotic drops, eye protection and hygiene advice matter during that window. Even so, the overall rate is low, and prompt treatment is usually very effective (Leccisotti et al., 2024 [3]).
KEY DATA POINT
In a modern 100,000-eye case series, infection occurred in about 1 in 6,000 to 1 in 7,000 surface (PRK) treatments, compared with roughly 1 in 43,000 after femtosecond LASIK, and every case that did occur had a favourable outcome after prompt treatment (Leccisotti et al., 2024 [3]). If your eye becomes increasingly painful, red or light-sensitive, or produces discharge, contact the clinic straight away rather than waiting.
Occasionally the surface layer of cells loosened or removed during LASEK does not heal and reattach as smoothly as expected. If that happens, your surgeon manages it so that healing can restart, and the layer then grows back naturally. This can add a little to the recovery time and keep vision blurred for a few extra weeks, but it usually resolves.
Ectasia is a rare weakening of the cornea, in which it gradually changes shape, blurring vision and causing a return of short-sightedness. Because LASEK and PRK are surface treatments that do not create a corneal flap, the risk of ectasia is lower than with LASIK, and it is rare after surface laser surgery. Careful pre-operative corneal scanning screens out at-risk eyes in the first place (Moshirfar et al., 2021 [4]).
If ectasia does occur, it can usually be stabilised with corneal collagen cross-linking, a treatment that strengthens the corneal tissue (Wollensak et al., 2003 [9]). For more detail on this and other uncommon complications, see our LASEK/PRK safety and risks guide.
A SURGEON'S PERSPECTIVE
One of the biggest mistakes patients make is judging the result too early. The first few days after PRK or LASEK can be sore, and then the discomfort settles while the vision is still blurry. Patients heal at different speeds. What matters is that the surface is healing properly, the discomfort is reducing, and the eye keeps improving. I am far less interested in whether someone can read a particular line on day four than in how the eye looks and how it progresses over the following weeks.
David Allamby, Medical Director, Focus Clinic
The LASEK recovery process is most intense for the first few days, when the eyes can feel light-sensitive, blurry, gritty and teary, which is why you will need time off work. Your eyes then heal gradually, your vision improves over the following weeks, and the results settle fully over the following months.
If you are considering LASEK, book a free telephone consultation with a member of our team. They will be happy to discuss your treatment and explain in more detail what you can expect after the procedure.
Ready to talk it through? Contact Focus Clinic to arrange your free consultation.
These LASEK answers are written and reviewed by Focus Clinic's chief surgeon, Mr David Allamby MD, who has performed more than 30,000 laser eye surgery procedures over 25 years. Focus is an Alcon-named Centre of Excellence and European training centre for ray-tracing-guided LASIK.
Blurred or fluctuating vision during the first week or two is common because the corneal surface is still healing. LASEK and PRK recover more slowly than LASIK because the surface layer has to regrow, so improvement is usually gradual rather than immediate.
Yes. The two eyes don't necessarily heal at the same speed, so one may temporarily seem sharper or more comfortable than the other. This is common and usually settles as both eyes recover.
Yes. Recovery varies between patients, and factors such as your prescription, the eye surface before treatment, dry eye and your individual healing response can affect how quickly vision settles.
No. Early visual recovery varies considerably after PRK and LASEK. A slower first week does not necessarily predict the final result, which typically continues to sharpen over the following weeks and months.
Contact us if pain is severe or increasing, vision suddenly worsens, redness or discharge increases, or the eye starts getting worse after previously improving.
For appropriately selected patients, LASEK/PRK and LASIK can both provide excellent final vision, and comparative reviews find broadly similar refractive results. The main difference is that surface treatment generally recovers more slowly and is more uncomfortable in the first few days, because the corneal surface has to heal (Shortt et al., 2013 [6]; Kuryan et al., 2017 [2]).
1. Bower KS, Sia RK, Ryan DS, Mines MJ, Dartt DA. Chronic dry eye in photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis: manifestations, incidence, and predictive factors. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2015;41(12):2624-2634. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrs.2015.06.037
2. Kuryan J, Cheema A, Chuck RS. Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) versus laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for correcting myopia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2(2):CD011080. doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011080.pub2
3. Leccisotti A, Fields SV, De Bartolo G, Crudale C. Infectious keratitis after photorefractive keratectomy, femtosecond-LASIK and lenticule extraction in a 100,000-eye case series. Laser Ther. 2024. doi.org/10.4081/ltj.2024.389
4. Moshirfar M, Tukan AN, Bundogji N, et al. Ectasia after corneal refractive surgery: a systematic review. Ophthalmol Ther. 2021;10(4):753-776. doi.org/10.1007/s40123-021-00383-w
5. O'Brart DPS, Shalchi Z, McDonald RJ, Patel P, Archer TJ, Marshall J. Twenty-year follow-up of a randomized prospective clinical trial of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy. Am J Ophthalmol. 2014;158(4):651-663. doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2014.06.011
6. Shortt AJ, Allan BDS, Evans JR. Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) versus photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(1):CD005135. doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005135.pub3
7. Steigleman WA, Rose-Nussbaumer J, Al-Mohtaseb Z, et al. Management of pain after photorefractive keratectomy: a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2023;130(1):87-98. doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2022.07.028
8. Taneri S, Knepper J, Rost A, Dick HB. PRK, LASIK, SMILE im Langzeitverlauf [Long-term outcomes of PRK, LASIK and SMILE]. Ophthalmologe. 2022;119(2):163-169. doi.org/10.1007/s00347-021-01449-7
9. Wollensak G, Spoerl E, Seiler T. Riboflavin/ultraviolet-A-induced collagen crosslinking for the treatment of keratoconus. Am J Ophthalmol. 2003;135(5):620-627. doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9394(02)02220-1
This page provides general information about LASEK and PRK recovery and is not a substitute for personal medical advice.
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