SMILE and SMILE pro Recovery: When Can You Return to Work?

“Can I have surgery on Friday and return to work on Monday?”

If you are preparing for SMILE or SMILE pro, your return-to-work date may be just as much of a concern as your surgery date. This is especially true if taking extended leave is difficult or you are about to start a new job.

Whether you can return to work on Monday after surgery on Friday depends on your job and how your recovery is progressing. After SMILE or SMILE pro, you can wash your face, shower, apply face makeup, and do light exercise starting the day after surgery. However, that does not mean you will necessarily feel comfortable spending all day at a monitor or driving at the same point in your recovery. When choosing your return-to-work date, consider what your work involves and when you will attend your postoperative appointments.

This article walks through preparing for an examination and surgery on the same day, resuming everyday activities, and planning computer work and your return to work.

Same-Day SMILE: Plan Your Postoperative Schedule Too

Same-day SMILE means having your examination and surgery on the same day, provided your examination results show that you are a suitable candidate and you have completed the necessary preparation. Same-day surgery does not mean any part of the examination or surgery is omitted or shortened. Follow-up appointments are still necessary to check your recovery and postoperative progress.

If you are planning same-day surgery, please let us know when you book your appointment. If you wear contact lenses, you will need to stop wearing them for a specified period before your examination. Before booking time off or setting a surgery date, tell us what type of contact lenses you currently wear so that we can advise you on how long to leave them out. You can find more preparation details in our guide to stopping contact lens wear before a vision correction examination.

Next, consider your preferred examination and surgery date alongside your planned return-to-work date, and coordinate your postoperative appointments as well. Let us know about any dates that are difficult to change, such as your first day at a new job or an important business trip. Your examination results will determine which procedure is appropriate and whether you can have surgery.

What Does “Everyday Activities the Next Day” Mean?

When reading about recovery, you may see the phrase “resume everyday activities the next day.” Here, everyday activities means being able to start washing your face and doing light activities again. It should not be taken to mean that your vision has fully stabilized or that you can do any type of work without discomfort.

Briefly checking your phone at home and spending hours looking at a monitor or reading documents after returning to work place different demands on your eyes. It is therefore helpful to distinguish between when you can resume everyday activities, when you can return to work, and when your vision stabilizes.

When Can You Wash Your Face, Wear Makeup, and Exercise?

In general, you can wash your face, shower, apply face makeup, and do light exercise starting the day after surgery. However, activities that may directly irritate your eyes, such as eye makeup or swimming, may have different start dates.

The table above is based on EYEREUM’s SMILE recovery guidance and guidance on daily activities after SMILE pro. If you have been given different instructions based on your eye condition, please follow those instructions first.

If you have exercise plans after surgery, mention the activity and date—for example, “Can I go swimming this weekend?” rather than simply “Can I exercise?” If you need to wear eye makeup for work, ask about it separately from face makeup. Check in advance which activities you can resume and when, based on your usual routine.

How Should You Plan Your Return to Work If You Use a Computer Most of the Day?

If your work involves long periods in front of a screen, check not only when you can return to work but also what precautions to take at work and how to use your eye drops.

Your eyes may feel dry during recovery after SMILE surgery. Persistent dryness can also cause blurred vision or discomfort during recovery, so use your prescribed eye drops and artificial tears as instructed. Take breaks to rest your eyes when using a computer or smartphone for extended periods.

Even within the same office job, a day spent mostly using a monitor can place different demands on your eyes than a day of face-to-face work. Check whether you have any long periods of screen work scheduled immediately after returning, and whether you can take breaks to rest your eyes.

During your consultation, explain what you actually do at work as well as your job title. Descriptions like these can help us understand your situation:

• If you do a lot of screen work: “I spend most of the day reading and writing documents on a monitor. I can adjust when I take breaks.”

• If you need to drive: “I need to drive to and from work, and my commute home also involves driving at night.”

• If your work is physically active: “My work involves a lot of physical activity. When can I start doing it again?”

It is best to ask about driving separately. Being able to wash your face or do light activities does not mean you can start driving at the same time. Have your vision and recovery checked after surgery and follow your doctor’s guidance on when to resume driving. Until then, consider other ways to travel, such as public transportation.

Is Recovery Faster After SMILE pro?

SMILE pro’s shorter laser application time does not necessarily mean faster recovery or an earlier return to work. Recovery after surgery needs to be considered separately.

This distinction can be easy to overlook when comparing SMILE and SMILE pro. A shorter laser application time alone does not mean that you can take less time off or that your vision will stabilize sooner. Your individual recovery rate, dryness, and work environment after returning all need to be considered.

When choosing a procedure, first ask which option is appropriate for your examination results and why. Then ask for recovery guidance that takes your return-to-work schedule into account. Our guide to choosing between SMILE, SmartSight NOVA, and PRK explains the features of the equipment and procedures in more detail.

Prepare These Four Things Before Your Consultation

Before setting a surgery date, make a note of the following to help with your consultation.

1. Your preferred surgery and return-to-work dates: Include dates that are difficult to change, such as starting a new job or taking a business trip.

2. Whether you wear contact lenses: Ask about your lens type and any preparation needed before your examination.

3. Your usual work and transportation: Let us know how much time you spend on a computer, whether you drive, and whether your work involves substantial physical activity.

4. When you can attend postoperative appointments: Plan your leave to include follow-up visits as well as the day of surgery.

For example, you might say: “I start a new job next Monday, and I mainly work on a computer. I also need to drive to and from work. How should I schedule my examination, surgery, and follow-up appointments?” If you have swimming or exercise plans, ask about those as well.

Organizing your schedule first allows you to go beyond asking “How many days should I rest?” and discuss more specifically what you need to prepare and coordinate.

If You Are Planning Surgery Around Your Return to Work

When requesting a consultation at EYEREUM Eye Clinic, please let us know your preferred surgery date, planned return-to-work date, and usual work duties. Based on your comprehensive examination results, you can discuss the most appropriate procedure and timing, as well as your postoperative appointment schedule.