Excerpted from a post By Daniel Porter for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published Dec. 11, 2024

It is common to wonder how eye surgery or an eye condition will impact your fitness routine. While it’s important to stay active, some exercise may do more harm than good.

Here are general guidelines that may help you—but remember: Always ask your ophthalmologist before resuming any form of exercise.

Eye injuries and exercise

Talk with your ophthalmologist before resuming any exercise after an eye injury. With injuries like corneal laceration, corneal ulcer or globe rupture, the eye is more vulnerable to further injury and infection. While you’re recovering:

• Avoid any exercise—especially contact sports—to let the eye heal.
• Swimming is not safe. With an opening in the cornea, a dangerous microbe called Acanthamoeba can enter your eye.

Retinal conditions and exercise

Can I play sports with a retinal condition?

The retina is the light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. For those with retinal conditions like lattice degeneration, high myopia or posterior vitreous detachment, there is a higher risk of retinal detachment. Sports that include blows to the head and potential for whiplash injury or eye trauma raise the risk even higher.

While most exercise is safe, when the strength of the retina is uncertain, it is safest to avoid:

• Boxing, kickboxing and other combat sports
• Bungee jumping
• Bumper car rides
• Skydiving

If you are cleared to play sports like basketball or racquetball, wear protective eyewear to prevent eye injury.

In general, exercise is encouraged in those with diseases of the retina. It benefits your overall health and may even improve your eye health. With age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy associated with high blood pressure and high cholesterol—lowering these important health indicators with regular exercise may also limit the progression of eye disease.

If you see new floaters, flashes of light or other changes in vision, see your ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

Resuming physical activity after retinal surgery

Retinal specialists follow general guidelines for a safe return to exercise. But these guidelines will not apply to every person. Ask your surgeon when you can get back to your normal routine.

• No strenuous (tough or challenging) exercise for 1 to 2 weeks after most retinal surgery. Light exercise, like walking, may be safe. Ask your doctor.
• No swimming (or direct exposure of water to the eyes) for 1 to 2 weeks after most retinal surgery. Also, no water should enter the eye for 48 to 72 hours after an anti-VEGF injection (like Avastin or Eylea) for AMD and other retinal disease.
• No flying, high altitudes (mountains) and scuba diving after retinal surgery with a gas bubble. These and all other physical activities are restricted until the gas bubble goes away. Your doctor will give you guidance about when this might happen.