Makeup after myopia surgery: when can you wear it again?

When preparing for myopia surgery, a practical question often comes up: when should you stop wearing makeup, and when can you resume it after LASIK or PRK? Mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow and creams around the eyes are not trivial while the eye heals. Here are the guidelines published by the U.S. FDA and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), and what is decided with the eye surgeon at the follow-up visit.

1. Why makeup is paused around surgery

Makeup, creams and debris along the eyelashes can bring germs into contact with the eye. According to the FDA, these products may increase the risk of infection during and after surgery. After LASIK, the cornea has a flap that is healing; after PRK, the surface layer of the cornea grows back. In both cases, the eye should not be exposed to unnecessary products or rubbing.

So this is a matter of hygiene rather than looks: the break is short, and it protects healing.

2. Before surgery: stop everything the day before

The FDA recommends stopping, the day before surgery:

• makeup (eyes and face);
• creams and lotions;
• perfumes.

Your eye surgeon may also ask you to clean your eyelid margins and lashes for a few days before surgery to remove residues. On the day itself, you arrive with a clean face, without makeup or cream. If you wear contact lenses, the stopping times before the assessment are detailed in Stopping contact lenses before myopia surgery, and the course of the day in The day of surgery.

3. After LASIK: up to two weeks without eye makeup

According to the FDA, to help prevent infection you may need to wait up to two weeks after surgery, or until your doctor advises otherwise, before using lotions, creams or makeup around the eye. The AAO agrees: after eye surgery, do not wear makeup around the eye until your ophthalmologist tells you it is safe.

During this period, the FDA stresses above all not to rub your eyes: rubbing could dislodge the corneal flap and require further treatment. In the first days, burning, tearing or light sensitivity are common and usually fade quickly (see also Life after LASIK).

4. After PRK: a timeline set at the follow-up visit

After PRK, the AAO explains that a bandage contact lens is placed on the eye to help it heal, and that vision gradually improves over 3 to 5 days, while the best vision may take a month or longer. As long as the corneal surface is rebuilding, the eye remains more sensitive.

The guidelines cited give no specific figure for makeup after PRK: your eye surgeon tells you when to resume, based on how the cornea looks at the follow-up visit. The technique itself is selected by the eye surgeon after the preoperative assessment.

5. Resuming makeup gently

Once you have the go-ahead, a few rules drawn from the AAO advice reduce the risks:

• use new products: the AAO advises throwing away eye makeup after three months, as bacteria grow easily in creamy or liquid products;
• apply makeup outside the lash line, so as not to block the eyelid glands that protect the eye’s surface;
• avoid glitter and metallic powders: the AAO cites them as a common cause of corneal irritation or infection;
• never share your makeup and avoid store testers;
• introduce only one new product at a time if you are prone to allergies.

When removing makeup, do it without pressing on or rubbing the eye, with eyelids closed. If your eyes feel dry in the first weeks, artificial tears may be advised: practical tips are in Dry eye after LASIK.

6. False lashes, extensions and lash treatments: ask your surgeon

The AAO notes that glued or magnetic false lashes can irritate the skin around the eyes or, if poorly applied, scratch the cornea; it advises keeping them for special occasions and having them applied by a professional.

The guidelines cited give no precise timeline for lash extensions, lifts or tints after refractive surgery. The simplest approach is to ask at the post-operative visit and wait for your eye surgeon’s explicit approval before any lash treatment.

7. Signs that require prompt medical advice

The FDA recommends contacting your eye doctor immediately, without waiting for the scheduled visit, in case of severe pain or if your vision or other symptoms get worse instead of better. Unusual redness or increasing discomfort after resuming makeup also warrants stopping the product and seeking advice.

To see makeup alongside other instructions (screens, work, sport), read Returning to work after LASIK or PRK and, to compare glasses, contact lenses and surgery, Treatments: glasses, lenses, surgery.

FAQ: makeup and myopia surgery

Going further

• Life after LASIK: what changes day to day;
• Returning to work after LASIK or PRK: timelines by job;
• Dry eye after LASIK: duration and solutions;
• Contact lenses before surgery: when to stop;
• The day of surgery: how it goes;
• Treatments: glasses, lenses, surgery: overview;
• LASIK and PRK in detail.

Sources

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. What should I expect before, during, and after surgery? (LASIK). fda.gov
• American Academy of Ophthalmology. How To Use Cosmetics Safely Around Your Eyes. EyeSmart. aao.org
• American Academy of Ophthalmology. Laser Surgery Recovery. EyeSmart. aao.org
• American Academy of Ophthalmology. What Is Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)? EyeSmart. aao.org