Makeup and Laser Eye Surgery: Everything You Need to Know

There are a lot of considerations to be made when planning your Laser Eye Surgery treatment. You’ll likely have thought about the amount of time you’ll need to take off work, or how long it will be before you can head back to your weekly gym class, but it is easy to overlook some of the more mundane things that we tend to take for granted. For example, what are the rules when it comes to Laser Eye Surgery and makeup?

Thankfully, we’re on a mission to give you all the information you need – right here on the London Vision Clinic website. And with that in mind, this article will tell you everything you need to know about wearing makeup before and after your treatment!

An Important Question for Your Recovery

The fact is, this is one of the most common questions our patient care coordinators are asked by our patients. And far from being unimportant or trivial, knowing the facts can actually be crucial for a smooth and safe recovery from Laser Eye Surgery.

While Laser Eye Surgery is now one of the most commonly performed elective procedures in the world (in addition to being one of the safest), it is important to remember that it is still a type of surgery – and should be taken as seriously as any other surgical procedure.

This should involve being fully informed of the precautions you will need to take before, during, and after your treatment. Doing so will help to maximise the benefits and minimise any potential risk of complications.

So, what exactly are the rules when it comes to wearing makeup during or after your treatment? Well, our expert Laser Eye Surgeon, Mr Glenn Carp offers some helpful advice in the video below.

When Can I Wear Makeup After Laser Eye Surgery?

While it may not seem that Mr Glenn Carp is a voice of authority when it comes to makeup, he is in fact one of the world’s leading Laser Eye Surgeons, which means he knows a thing or two about the dos and don’ts regarding the procedure – even when it comes to cosmetics.

As Mr Carp explains in the video above, it’s best practice to abstain from wearing eye makeup for at least one week after Laser Eye Surgery. In some

However, many people will be pleased to hear that this makeup-free period doesn’t apply to all types of face makeup. For example, while eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara should be avoided for the full week (for obvious reasons), products designed for different parts of the face, such as lipstick, can be used within a few days of your treatment.

Nonetheless, the stricter you are with these rules, the better. Limiting your exposure to cosmetics products can help prevent any unwanted fibres or liquids from entering the eye which could cause irritation and infection, potentially prolonging the eye’s recovery process.

But you will also have to consider the makeup you wear on the day of your procedure and even before…

Wearing Makeup Before and During Laser Eye Surgery

We ask our patients to wear only minimal makeup around their eyes during the initial consultation at the clinic. Generally, this should include avoiding mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow. That’s because we will be conducting a series of tests and examinations of your eyes and make-p residue can affect the results.

On the day of your procedure, we ask that you avoid face makeup completely. This includes not only mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow, but also products like blusher, highlighter, bronzer, and even lipstick. Eye makeup should not be worn for at least 24 hours before your treatment.

Moreover, we also ask that you do not wear any perfumes/aftershaves as well as any face lotions or moisturisers. Finally, eyelash extensions should be removed before your surgery and should not be replaced until at least two months after the procedure.

Let’s Summarise!

Before surgery:

• Avoid eye makeup when attending your consultations at the clinic.
• Do not wear any makeup on the day of your procedure (including all face makeup!).
• Do not wear lotions, moisturisers, or perfumes/aftershaves on the day of your treatment.
• Have eyelash extensions removed before surgery and do not replace them for at least two months.

After Surgery:

• Avoid wearing eye makeup for at least a week after your Laser Eye Surgery (your surgeon may advise you to extend this period).
• You can generally start to wear liquid concealer and light foundation two days after your treatment (but go easy around the eyes!)
• Lotions and moisturisers can also be used after two days, but avoid contact with your eyes!
• Powder-based foundations and blushes can be used five days after surgery.
• Eye creams should be avoided for around two weeks after your surgery.
• Makeup tools are known to build up certain harmful bacteria, so it may be appropriate to purchase new brushes and products for use after your treatment.

The bottom line is that most people will once again be free to apply all makeup products around two weeks after their treatment. During this time, you will also most likely have been signed off to restart most normal activities, from driving and returning to work to getting back to gentle exercise!

Have a question concerning certain makeup or beauty products? Contact one of our knowledgeable and friendly clinic coordinators today. Want to go ahead with Laser Eye Surgery? Book a Consultation to start the process!