When Can I Wear Make-Up After Laser Eye Surgery: LASIK, transPRK/ LASEK & SMILE?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions by my patients. These recommendations are to help you have a fast and straightforward recovery after all methods of laser vision correction, so LASIK, transPRK (LASEK) or SMILE.
Before surgery:
Please do not wear any makeup for 48 hours before your laser eye surgery. This includes all types of makeup such as powder, blushers or foundation and especially mascara, eye shadow and eyeliner. This is because the particles from makeup are an infection risk.
Eyelash extensions need to be removed at least one week before your laser vision correction.
Consider having your eyelashes tinted at least one week before your laser eye surgery if any of the below fill you with no eye makeup horror!
Day of surgery:
Please clean your eyelids and eyelashes on the day of surgery thoroughly- as if you were removing any makeup.
You should not wear any perfume or aftershave as these can affect the laser beam transmission and so your prescription correction.
After your laser eye surgery:
Please do not wear any mascara, eyeshadow or eyeliner for a minimum of 10 days after surgery. Waterproof mascara in particular must not be used for at least the first 2 weeks, as you have to scrub your eyelashes much harder to remove this, and so this could effect the healing after your eye surgery.
Concealer and light foundation can be used on your face, avoiding the eye area, after 3 days.
I recommend that patients do not have any form of eyebrow or eyelash treatments for at least 4 weeks after surgery.
Also, I strongly encourage my patients to throw away all used eye cosmetics and tools (brushes etc) following surgery and to start again with new products wherever possible. This is to reduce the risk of any eye infection.
What are the best products to use after laser vision correction?
Eye-make up remover
When you are ready to start using cosmetics again, I advise patients to be as gentle as possible when removing make-up. You can use cotton pads with a make-up remover over the closed eye to gently and effectively remove eye-make up.
Lubricating eye drops
Lubricating eye drops will help make the eyes more comfortable, relieving any dry eye symptoms. These drops must be preservative free. They typically contain sodium hyaluranate which is the sodium salt form of hyaluronic acid (HA) which is a substance that naturally occurs in your body, including your skin and joint fluid.
Lubricating eye drops can be bought over-the-counter or online (so no prescription is needed), and can safely be used as often as needed to keep your eyes comfortable. Please ensure you check carefully that they are preservative-free.