Sick leave after LASIK, PKR or SMILE: what you need to know

Are you preparing for laser eye surgery and wondering whether you will be entitled to sick leave? The answer often comes as a surprise: because refractive surgery is considered an elective procedure, it does not entitle you to paid sick leave from the French health insurance system. In practice, the good news is that recovery is fast, especially after LASIK. Here, technique by technique, is the realistic recovery time and how to plan your schedule around the procedure.

Direct answer: sick leave and refractive surgery

Key point. LASIK, PKR and SMILE are not covered by the French social security system: they therefore do not give rise to paid sick leave. Returning to work depends on the technique: as early as the next day for LASIK, two days later for SMILE, and rather after 3 to 4 days for PKR (surface laser). The simplest trick is to schedule the procedure at the end of the week and take one or two days of leave.

Why is there no covered sick leave?

The French health insurance system classifies refractive surgery among so-called “elective” procedures, in the same way as the glasses or contact lenses it replaces. Since this surgery is not reimbursed by the social security system, it does not entitle you to paid sick leave for the procedure itself.

In practice, you will need to plan your rest days using your paid holiday or time-off days. This is rarely an obstacle, because visual recovery after refractive surgery is one of the fastest in all of eye surgery.

How many days depending on the technique?

LASIK: return as early as the next day

LASIK offers very fast visual recovery, on the order of a few hours. Most patients return to office work as early as the next day. The first night is often accompanied by watering eyes and a gritty, sand-like sensation that fades by the morning. To learn more about the technique, see our dedicated page on LASIK.

SMILE: return as early as two days later

SMILE, which relies on a micro-incision with no flap, provides recovery comparable to LASIK. Work can generally be resumed two days after the procedure, sometimes as early as the next day depending on your job.

PKR: allow 3 to 4 days

PKR (surface laser) involves the healing of the cornea’s surface layer. Visual recovery takes a little longer, on the order of a few days, with more pronounced discomfort and light sensitivity during the first 48 hours. Returning to work generally takes place after 3 to 4 days. For a job that is very visually demanding, it is better to allow some margin.

Visual recovery, day by day

If the return is so fast after LASIK or SMILE, it is because useful vision comes back within a few hours to a few days. Studies comparing visual quality in the very early phase after the procedure show rapid recovery from the first few days, which explains the early return to office work. Even visually demanding tasks — flight fitness, for example, has been studied in helicopter pilots — recover within a few days after LASIK or PKR. This does not remove the need for caution: vision can fluctuate at the end of the day, and the dry eye of the first few weeks adds to fatigue in front of a screen.

The best guide remains your own comfort: resume gradually, in short sessions at first, and do not hesitate to use artificial tears. Definitive recovery, for its part, is confirmed over the course of the post-operative check-ups.

Adapting the timing to your job

• Screen work: possible quickly, but in short sessions at first; dry eye can add to fatigue during the first few days.
• Outdoor or dusty jobs (construction sites, gardening): allow a few extra days and use eye protection while healing takes place.
• Professional driving: only get back behind the wheel once your vision is sharp and stable, after your ophthalmologist’s approval.
• Aquatic or very humid environments: swimming pools, saunas and steam rooms should be avoided for several weeks to limit the risk of infection.

Organising your procedure well

The simplest practical tip is to choose the timing of the procedure according to your week. Many patients have surgery on a Thursday or Friday and use the weekend to recover, which reduces the number of leave days to take. Also plan for someone to accompany you home, since you will not be driving on the day itself.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Scientific sources

1. Liu T, Lu G, Chen K, Kan Q. Visual and optical quality outcomes of SMILE and FS-LASIK for myopia in the very early phase after surgery. BMC Ophthalmol. 2019;19(1):88. PMID 30961593.
2. Van de Pol C, Greig JL, Estrada A, Bissette GM. Visual and flight performance recovery after PRK or LASIK in helicopter pilots. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2007;78(6):547-553. PMID 17571652.

Further reading

• LASIK: procedure and post-operative course
• Sport, swimming and flying after LASIK
• Cost of refractive surgery
• The pre-operative assessment

Refractive assessment at the Cachan office · Tel. 01 45 47 08 11

In summary

Refractive surgery is an elective procedure: it does not entitle you to paid sick leave, and rest days are taken from holiday or time-off days. The good news is that recovery is fast: return as early as the next day after LASIK, two days later after SMILE, and after 3 to 4 days after PKR.

The timing is adjusted to your job — screen work, driving, dusty outdoor settings. The simplest arrangement is to have surgery at the end of the week. The precise schedule is decided during the pre-operative assessment. Laser refractive surgery is performed at the Clinique Laser Victor Hugo, after a full assessment at the Cachan office.

This article is intended for informational and educational purposes. It does not replace a medical consultation. The recovery times given are indicative and vary according to each patient, the technique and the job. Only your ophthalmologist can assess your situation. Refractive surgery is a procedure not covered by the French health insurance system.