How should I care for my eyes after ICL surgery?
Use your prescribed eye drops and artificial tears as instructed. Avoid rubbing your eyes, keep dirt and other contaminants out of them, and protect them from injury.
The table below gives our usual timings for daily activities. Follow any different instructions given for your own recovery.
| Activity | Usual guidance at SNU |
|---|---|
| Gentle face washing, showering and hair washing | From around three days after surgery; do not press on the eyes |
| Heavy eye makeup | After about one week |
| Swimming, sauna visits and hair colouring | After about two weeks |
| Alcohol and smoking | Avoid for two weeks after surgery |
We generally advise waiting about two weeks for light exercise and one month for higher-intensity exercise. Check when you can return to your sport, especially if it carries a risk of eye injury.
Keep your eye-drop instructions with you throughout the trip. Follow the prescribed dose and duration for each medicine, even when you can resume activities in the table.
Seek medical attention if you develop a sudden severe headache, dizziness or vomiting, severe eye pain or marked redness. Don't wait for your next check-up. If you are already overseas, seek care locally.
Which follow-up visits will I need?
At SNU, you rest for about an hour after ICL surgery and have another examination to check the lens position before going home. You will also need follow-up appointments.
Our usual schedule includes reviews at one month, six months and one year, followed by annual examinations. Before surgery, confirm your early check-ups too, including any visit needed during the first week, and make a note of the dates.
SNU has a dedicated ICL team whose work includes examinations and postoperative care. Our ICL information page (in Korean) describes the team's role.
If a review is due after you return home, discuss where you will have it and what surgery and lens records to take to your ophthalmologist. For more on choosing and measuring the lens, see our ICL examination and lens-planning guide.
About Dr. Kim Seong Hee
Dr. Kim Seong Hee is involved in SNU's postoperative follow-up system. Dr. Kim's profile (in Korean).
When can I fly home, and what should I arrange before leaving Korea?
Our general surgery Q&A (in Korean) says that flying is possible from the day of ICL surgery. Before booking, confirm your departure date and follow-up appointments with your treating team. Use artificial tears as instructed in the dry cabin.
Before you leave Korea, check that you know:
- Whether you have completed all appointments needed before departure.
- How to use your eye drops and whether you have the medicines you need.
- When and where you will have your next examination.
- Which lens and surgery records to take home.
- How to contact the clinic and where to seek care if symptoms develop at home.
If you are still planning the procedure, include your intended arrival and departure dates in your appointment request. When discussing costs, also check whether later visits and medicines are included in your ICL treatment quote.