Can You Go Skydiving After LASIK?

Imagine sitting at the open door of an airplane, 14,000 feet above the earth, ready to take the leap of a lifetime. The wind rushes past you, your heart pounds with excitement – and for the first time ever, you’re experiencing it all with crystal-clear vision. No glasses, no slipping contact lenses – just a pure, unobstructed sight of the world beneath you.

If you’ve recently had LASIK, you might be wondering: Can you skydive after LASIK? 

LASIK eye surgery has revolutionized vision correction, giving millions the freedom to ditch their glasses and contacts to enjoy their own fresh set of eyeballs at their full potential. While the procedure offers clear advantages for adventure lovers and extreme sport enthusiasts, it’s crucial to respect the recovery period and know of the potential risks and necessary precautions before taking to the skies.

Can You Skydive After LASIK?

Yes, you can absolutely go skydiving after undergoing LASIK surgery. However, it is essential to follow your surgeon’s post-op guidelines to ensure proper healing and to minimize potential risks. Adhering to these recommendations is crucial for a safe return to those high-adrenaline activities you love, like skydiving!

How Long After LASIK Can You Go Skydiving?

While the recovery timeline can vary from person to person, most care professionals advise waiting at least one month post-LASIK eye surgery before engaging in any extreme physical activities. This waiting period allows the corneal flap created during the surgery to heal, reducing the risk of complications. 

Some experts even suggest restricting all activities until the end of three months post-surgery, to be extra cautious. Once the three months is up, you usually get the green light for basically all intense activities like water skiing, scuba diving, snowboarding, and yes, skydiving. It is always best to consult with your specific eye surgeon to receive the best personalized advice based on your condition and healing progress.

If you want to be extra cautious, wait until after the six month mark. By this time, your eye will have had plenty of time to heal and you’ll be well positioned to get the full go-ahead from your physician – your eye should be ready to withstand the 120 mph winds of skydiving freefall.

Skydiving After LASIK: How to Prepare

To ensure the most comfortable and safest skydiving experience possible after your successful LASIK procedure, consider the following preparations:

• Consult Your Eye Surgeon: before scheduling your skydive, have a follow-up appointment with your eye surgeon to confirm that your eyes have sufficiently healed and that you are cleared for skydiving. Depending on how long it has been, we may even ask for a doctor’s note stating that you are approved to jump.
• Protective Eyewear: wearing goggles during your skydive is essential to shield your eyes from wind, debris, and potentially harmful UV rays. Ensure that the goggles fit snugly without applying too much pressure to your eyes. If you are an experienced skydiver, you can opt for a full-face helmet for even more protection.
• Stay Hydrated: LASIK can sometimes cause temporary dry eyes. Staying hydrated helps your body maintain tear production and eye moisture, which will enhance comfort during your skydive.
• Use Lubricating Eye Drops: bring artificial tears or the eye drop your doctor’s office recommends to help alleviate any dryness or irritation before and after your jump.
• Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes: even if your eyes feel itchy or irritated, do your best to refrain from rubbing them, as this can not only interfere with the healing process, but it can make the irritation worse. No bueno.
• Inform Your Instructor: if you are joining us for a tandem skydive, please be sure to inform your instructor that you’ve recently had LASIK eye surgery and address any concerns you may have. Our team has been in the skydiving biz for a long time – *cough* 50 years *cough* – and can make adjustments to your goggles and/or your experience to enhance your comfort. Our instructors might even have a few helpful suggestions along the way, especially while in freefall.

Potential Risks of Skydiving After LASIK

When you follow your doctor’s post-surgery instructions, the risks for skydiving after LASIK are minimal. However, it’s important to be aware of potential complications that could impact your eyes. Here are some key risks to consider before jumping from an airplane:

• Incomplete Healing: the most significant risk is skydiving too soon after surgery and potentially ruining everything you worked so hard to achieve. The corneal flap created during LASIK needs time to heal and exposing your eyes to high-speed winds and pressure changes too early could interfere with the healing process or compromise your results.
• Increased Dryness: skydiving means experiencing wings of up to 120 mph, which can quickly dry out your eyes – even for an eyeball that hasn’t been subject to a procedure. Since dry eye symptoms are common in the weeks following the procedure, skydiving too soon after can exacerbate discomfort and irritation.
• Risk of Infection: any environment with dust, debris, or unfamiliar bacteria poses a risk of infection, especially during the vulnerable state that your eyes will be in while healing. Exposure to airborne particles during freefall or handling of equipment could introduce unwanted bacteria to sensitive post-LASIK eyes.
• Enhanced UV Exposure: at higher altitudes, UV radiation can be more intense, which can increase the risk of eye damage. Since LASIK can temporarily make your eyes more sensitive to light, additional UV exposure while skydiving can contribute to irritation or discomfort.

By giving your eyes the proper recovery time and taking necessary precautions, you can enjoy your skydiving adventure without worrying about compromising your vision.

Got the “OK” from your doctor? Let’s get your jump on the books! Schedule your skydive with Oklahoma’s most experienced dropzone, Oklahoma Skydiving Center. Blue skies!