Recovery guide

Driving after LASIK: when it is safe and legal to drive

You cannot drive yourself home after LASIK. Most people can drive from the day after LASIK or SMILE, once the day-one check confirms they meet the legal standard. After PRK or LASEK it is usually 3–6 days. Night driving may stay harder for 3–6 months because of glare and halos, the FDA notes.
Reviewed November 2026 · Seoul LASIK Clinic Directory
Driving after LASIK: when it is safe and legal to drive

When can I drive after LASIK?

Usually from the day after surgery, once your surgeon has checked your eyes and confirmed you meet the legal eyesight standard for driving. Never drive yourself home on surgery day: the FDA advises arranging transport, because of the sedative many clinics give and because vision is blurry for several hours.

Feeling that you can see well is not enough. Vision fluctuates in the first days, especially with dry eye, and glare from headlights or low sun is stronger than usual. Ask at your day-one check whether you meet the standard in each eye and with both eyes together, and do not drive until your surgeon says so. If you drive for work, plan a few days off rather than relying on day-one clearance.

How soon can I drive after each procedure?

The timeline depends on how quickly your functional vision returns.

Procedure Typical earliest daytime driving Night driving
LASIK Day 1, after clearance Often harder for weeks; may take 3–6 months to settle
SMILE/ SMILE Pro Day 1 or 2, after clearance; day one can be slightly hazier Halos common early
PRK/ LASEK Usually days 3–6 Wait until vision is clear and stable
ICL Usually after a few days, after the early checks Halos common early

AAO EyeWiki notes that after PRK, tearing, light sensitivity and blur may prevent driving for the first 3 days, and that most patients drive and return to work within 3–6 days.

What is the legal eyesight standard for driving?

It depends on your country, so check your own licensing authority. As an example, the UK government says you must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres and have visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) using both eyes together, plus an adequate field of vision.

If you used to need glasses to meet the standard, your licence may carry a glasses or lens condition. Ask your licensing authority how to update it once your vision is stable. Bus, lorry and commercial drivers face stricter standards; pilots and other licensed professions have their own rules, covered in LASIK for pilots and military.

What should I check before my first drive?

Run through a quick self-check before you get behind the wheel, and do not drive if any answer is no.

  • Has your surgeon confirmed you meet the driving standard with both eyes together?
  • Can you comfortably read signs and number plates at a distance in daylight?
  • Are your eyes comfortable, without constant watering or stinging?
  • Have you used your drops recently, with spare tears in the car?
  • Are you rested, and is the drive short and familiar?
  • Do you have sunglasses for bright light, and clear lenses or none at night?

Start with short daytime trips. Motorways, long night drives and driving in rain, which multiplies headlight glare, are best left until later. If one eye is lagging behind or you chose monovision, give yourself extra time to adapt to judging distances on the road. Do not drive yourself to the day-one check, because you have not yet been cleared.

Why is night driving harder after LASIK?

Because halos, glare and starbursts are common while the eye heals. In the FDA's PROWL studies, 43–46% of people reported a new visual symptom such as glare, halos or starbursts at three months. The FDA notes that glare, halos and difficulty driving at night may persist during the 3–6 month stabilisation period. The AAO adds that some people still need glasses for certain activities, such as driving at night.

Practical steps for the first months:

  • Drive in daylight first, then short familiar routes at night.
  • Keep the windscreen clean inside and out to cut glare.
  • Use artificial tears before driving; dryness makes halos worse.
  • Point air vents away from your face.
  • Wear good sunglasses for low sun and avoid tinted lenses at night.
  • If a small prescription remains, ask about glasses for night driving.

More in halos and glare after LASIK and dry eye after LASIK.

Can I drive in Korea after eye surgery?

We do not recommend it. Visitors need a valid international or Korean licence, and unfamiliar roads add strain while your eyes recover. Seoul's subway, taxis and airport transfers make driving unnecessary; see Incheon Airport to Gangnam and what to do in Seoul after LASIK.

Getting around without a car is easy. Taxis can be booked by app, most clinics in Gangnam are close to subway stations, and many international departments will arrange a car for surgery day. Being driven also lets you keep your eyes closed on the way back to the hotel, which is the most comfortable option in the first hours.

Can I drive home from the airport after flying back?

Only if you have been cleared and feel rested. Long flights dry the eyes and tire you, so a ride home is the safer choice in the first week. See flying after LASIK.

When should I stop driving and get checked?

Stop driving and contact your clinic if your vision gets worse rather than better, if you see double, or if pain or redness develop. Do not drive after an injury to the eye until you have been examined. This is general information; your surgeon and your licensing authority have the final word.

Sources

Key facts

  • Surgery day: never drive; arrange a ride (FDA)
  • LASIK and SMILE: usually from day 1, once cleared at the check
  • PRK and LASEK: usually 3–6 days (AAO EyeWiki)
  • Legal standard example (UK): read a number plate at 20 m and at least 6/12 vision
  • Night driving: glare and halos may persist for 3–6 months (FDA)
  • Halos explained: halos and glare after LASIK

Independent directory. Prices are typical ranges reported by Seoul clinics and change often. Always confirm a written quote and get a full eye exam before booking. This page is general information, not medical advice.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive the day after LASIK?

Usually yes, once your surgeon confirms at the day-one check that you meet the legal standard. Do not drive before that check.

Can I drive myself home after LASIK?

No. Vision is blurry for hours and you may have been given a sedative, so the FDA advises arranging transport.

How long after PRK or LASEK can I drive?

Usually 3–6 days, once the surface has healed and vision is clear enough, according to AAO EyeWiki.

Why are headlights so bright after LASIK?

Glare and halos are common while the eye heals and usually fade over 3–6 months. Dry eye makes them worse.

Do I need to tell my licensing authority after LASIK?

Rules vary by country. If your licence requires glasses, ask how to remove that condition once your vision is stable.

Planning vision correction in Seoul?

Compare clinics by district, check 2026 price ranges, and read our step-by-step planning guide for international patients.