How soon can I……?

• How soon can I return to work? For most people, the next day.  For those who work in dusty or smoky environments, it is advisable to take an extra day or two off.

• How soon can I rub my eyes?  There is not a point in time where we can say the flap is officially healed since it is a gradual process.  A good rule of thumb is to only use very light pressure on the eyelids in the first two weeks to keep the area clean.  After two months you may rub your eyes normally again, just no knuckle rubbing!
  
• Go swimming, scuba diving, or hot tubbing?  Two weeks!  (But you can shower and bathe immediately, just avoid soap and water in the eyes for two weeks)
   
• Fly in an airplane?  The next day, but you will need to use more artificial tears since the cabin air tends to be much drier than normal.
  
• Exercise?  The next day.  Try to avoid getting sweat in your eyes.  If you are going to participate in any sport where you may get brushed or bumped in the eye, make sure to wear eye protection for two months.
   
• Wear eye makeup? Three days minimum.  It’s not applying or wearing makeup that’s the risk, it’s removing it.  Make sure to use a good eye makeup remover to dissolve the makeup before gently wiping it off.

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