LASIK: why not use the summer to prepare your assessment?

Summer imposes no contraindication to refractive surgery, but above all it offers the ideal window to get the project under way: complete the assessment, stop lens wear in good time and schedule the procedure around a period of leave. Well prepared, the LASIK pathway unfolds without rush, provided you plan several weeks ahead. Here is how to use the summer to start out on solid ground.

Contents

TIMELINE

Why summer is the right time to launch your project

Contrary to a common belief, the value of summer does not lie in the surgical procedure itself, which can be carried out all year round, but in the time available around it. A refractive surgery project actually spreads over several weeks: stopping lens wear, the pre-operative assessment, a reflection period, the procedure, then follow-up visits. Summer leave makes it possible to move through these steps one after another without compressing them.

A realistic timeline often looks like this: stop soft lenses 48 to 72h before the assessment (1 week for rigid lenses, about 1 month for orthokeratology), a full pre-operative assessment, then a statutory reflection period before the procedure. By planning from the start of the summer, it becomes possible to have surgery during the holidays and to recover in peace, away from work pressures. Conversely, trying to “do everything in one week” before leaving often runs up against the fixed lead times of the assessment and lens stoppage.

The other advantage of the period is availability. Schedules ease up, and it is easier to fit in the follow-up appointments of the first few days and the first week, which are crucial for monitoring healing. You can also assess your profile in a few minutes with our online eligibility test even before the first consultation.

ELIGIBILITY

Am I a good candidate for LASIK?

There is no seasonal contraindication: the question of eligibility rests on medical criteria, not on the calendar. Several conditions must be met to consider laser refractive surgery with confidence:

  • Minimum age of 18, ideally beyond 21-22, once vision has stabilised.
  • Stable correction for at least 12 months: a recent change greater than 0.5 dioptre is a reason to wait.
  • A cornea of sufficient thickness and regular shape, a condition verified by pachymetry and topography.
  • No progressive corneal disease, in particular keratoconus, which is screened for during the assessment.
  • No current pregnancy or breastfeeding, which temporarily alter the refraction.
  • No uncontrolled autoimmune disease or untreated severe dry eye.

These criteria do not replace an examination: only the pre-operative assessment can decide for certain. Some profiles ruled out for LASIK remain eligible for another technique, a thin cornea steered towards PRK, very high myopia towards an ICL phakic implant. The subject is developed on the page dedicated to LASIK surgery.

THE ASSESSMENT

The pre-operative assessment, a key step to plan ahead

The pre-operative assessment is the true heart of the pathway: it is what determines eligibility, the best-suited technique and the expected result. It combines several non-invasive examinations, carried out at the practice:

  • Corneal topography maps the curvature of the cornea and screens for an irregularity suggestive of keratoconus.
  • Pachymetry measures corneal thickness, a decisive parameter for choosing between LASIK, PRK and SMILE.
  • Aberrometry analyses fine optical defects, useful for customised treatments.
  • Refraction, measured with and without dilation, pinpoints the exact correction to be treated.
  • Tear film analysis assesses any dry eye to be corrected before the procedure.

The essential condition for obtaining reliable measurements: stopping lens wear early enough. Lenses temporarily deform the cornea; an assessment carried out too soon after removing them distorts the topography and can lead to a poor treatment choice. As a rule this means 48 to 72h without wear for soft lenses, 1 week for rigid lenses, and about one month for orthokeratology (lenses worn overnight). It is precisely this lead time that makes planning ahead in summer so valuable. The full process is detailed on the pre-operative assessment page.

UNDERSTANDING

The stability of results over time

How long the result lasts is a legitimate concern before going ahead. Long-term studies are reassuring: Vega-Estrada and Alio (Eur J Ophthalmol, 2020) report, for high myopia treated with femtosecond LASIK, satisfactory refractive stability beyond 5 years, with a small proportion of patients requiring an enhancement.

Historically, Dirani et al. (J Cataract Refract Surg, 2010) had already shown, in a prospective cohort, refractive stability maintained at 10 years with a low regression rate. Combined with recent technical advances, latest-generation femtosecond lasers and customised treatments guided by aberrometry, these data reinforce confidence in the durability of results for well-selected patients.

One point is worth clarifying: LASIK corrects present vision, it does not halt the natural ageing of the eye. The onset of presbyopia after the age of 45 remains independent of the procedure, as does the possible progression towards a cataract several decades later. These changes fall under other forms of care and do not cancel out the benefit of the refractive treatment.

TECHNIQUES

Choosing between LASIK, PRK and SMILE

The choice of technique depends on several criteria that the assessment helps to objectify: corneal thickness, topography, refraction and lifestyle. None is “better” in absolute terms; each answers a particular profile.

  • LASIK: fast recovery within 24 to 48 h, return to work in 1 to 2 days. The reference technique for myopia up to -10 D, hyperopia up to +5 D and astigmatism up to -5 D, on a cornea of sufficient thickness.
  • SMILE: minimally invasive, with no corneal flap, it preserves the biomechanics of the cornea. Recovery is slightly slower (48 to 72 h). Of interest for medium-thickness corneas and for patients prone to dry eye.
  • PRK: longer recovery (7 to 10 days of discomfort), but it respects the deep corneal integrity. Preferred for a thin cornea, for contact-sport athletes and for occupations exposed to ocular trauma.

In practice, if you plan water or contact sports shortly after the procedure, PRK or SMILE are often preferred as they leave no corneal flap. The limits, however, remain the same: a cornea that is too thin, suspected keratoconus or unstable refraction contraindicate laser surgery and steer the case towards the ICL phakic implant.

RECOVERY

Recovering in hot weather: summer precautions

Having surgery in summer involves a few adjustments once the procedure is over, without them calling the choice of season into question. The key points to remember:

  • Sun protection: high-UV-index sunglasses, ideally wraparound, for 4 to 6 weeks. Direct UV exposure can slow healing.
  • Swimming: sea and pool are not advised for at least 3 weeks after LASIK or SMILE, and up to 4 weeks after PRK, because of the risk of corneal infection.
  • Air conditioning and dryness: dry air and fans heighten the dryness of the first few weeks; the prescribed eye drops should be used regularly.

These precautions and how to manage recovery during heatwaves are detailed in our dedicated article: LASIK, PRK, SMILE and heatwaves.

PATHWAY

The care pathway

Dr Tourabaly sees patients at the Cachan practice (94) and in Paris 13 for the consultation and pre-operative assessment. The laser procedure is performed at the Clinique Laser Victor Hugo (Paris 16), during dedicated slots. Availability is usually offered in July and August, taking everyone’s constraints into account (travel, children, holidays).

In practical terms, to arrange an assessment during the summer: call the practice on 01 45 47 08 11 or book directly on Doctolib. Remember to stop lens wear early enough before the appointment so that it does not have to be rescheduled. The cost and reimbursement arrangements for the various techniques are detailed on the refractive surgery prices page.

Dr Tourabaly’s view

“Summer is often a quieter period, well suited to good recovery. My advice above all is to plan ahead: it is stopping lens wear and the assessment that take time, not the procedure. If a trip to the beach or to altitude is planned right after the operation, we often prefer to postpone by a few days: recovering in a controlled environment remains more comfortable.”

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

You need to allow for stopping lens wear before the assessment (48 to 72h for soft lenses, 1 week for rigid lenses, about 1 month for orthokeratology), then a reflection period before the procedure. By planning from the start of the summer, the whole thing fits comfortably within the period of leave.

Yes, it is essential. Lenses temporarily deform the cornea and would distort the topography. As a rule, soft lenses are stopped 48 to 72h before, rigid lenses 1 week before, and orthokeratology about 1 month before. It is this lead time that justifies planning the appointment ahead.

Yes, there is no seasonal contraindication. Summer is even often an advantage thanks to time off conducive to recovery. You simply have to observe the summer precautions: no swimming, sand or direct sun for 3 to 4 weeks after the procedure.

Pool and sea are not advised for at least 3 weeks after LASIK and up to 4 weeks after PRK, the main risk being corneal infection. A shower with the eyes closed, on the other hand, is allowed from the next day.

Studies at 10-15 years report satisfactory refractive stability in the majority of well-selected patients. Partial regression concerns a minority of patients and may require an enhancement. The natural progression towards presbyopia after the age of 45 remains, for its part, independent of LASIK.

Flying is possible as early as 48 to 72 hours after LASIK or SMILE, and slightly later after PRK. It is advisable to take your prescribed eye drops with you and to instil them regularly during the flight, as cabin air is particularly dry.

There is no ideal season from a strictly medical standpoint: the procedure can be carried out all year round. The best time is one when you have a few days of rest for recovery and the ability to attend the follow-up visits. Summer and periods of leave often meet these conditions.

Prepare your LASIK assessment this summer

Book an appointment on Doctolib
Learn more — LASIK

Sources

  1. Vega-Estrada A, Alio JL. Femtosecond-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis for high myopia correction: Long-term follow-up outcomes. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2020;30(3):446-454. PMID: 30845834
  2. Dirani M, Couper T, Yau J, et al. Long-term refractive outcomes and stability after excimer laser surgery for myopia. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2010;36(10):1709-1717. PMID: 20870117
  3. Société Française d’Ophtalmologie (SFO). Report on refractive surgery — eligibility criteria and pre-operative assessment.
  4. Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS). Assessment of corneal refractive surgery techniques.

This article is for informational purposes. A personalised ophthalmological opinion remains essential for any treatment decision.

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Written and reviewed by Dr Moïse Tourabaly, ophthalmic refractive surgeon — former chief resident (Quinze-Vingts National Eye Hospital).

Last updated: July 6, 2026

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