Can I have Lasik and still participate in contact sports?

Question

Hello doctors, i'm going to do lasik treatment to correct my astigmatism and myopia but someone told me that lasik treatment will permanently weaken my cornea and thus will be unable to do contact sports like boxing, is this true ? he told me too that i should choose lasek over lasik if i want to practice a sport like boxing what should i choose ? many thanks !

Brian Davis, MD · Answer

When we perform Lasik surgery we create a flap of the cornea which is clear tissue on the front of the eye. The concern with contact sports is that you could get hit in the eye and possibly dislodge this flap. This can be possibly avoided with proper eye protection during these sporting activities. Most surgeons recommend that if you are going to participate in contact sports, such as boxing, that a technique which doesn't involve the creation of a flap be performed. This is usually Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) where the superficial epithelial tissue is removed prior to correcting your myopia and astigmatism with the laser or LASEK where the epithelial tissue is lifted, your myopia and astigmatism corrected with the laser and the epithelial tissue replaced. With boxing I therefore recommend PRK or LASEK.

Michael K. Tracy, MD · Answer

If you are going to participate in contact sports, surface laser (LASEK, PRK, Epi-LASIK) is much safer.  I can't imagine performing LASIK on a prizefighter given the risks.

Can I have Lasik and still participate in contact sports?

Answers (2)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about LASIK

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Can I have Lasik and still participate in contact sports?

Answers (2)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about LASIK

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.