To determine the early course of visual recovery after LASIK for myopia.In eight eyes visual acuity, both uncorrected and corrected, objective refraction, topography and contrast sensitivity were measured six times during the first day, twice daily for two days and after 1 week.Patients experienced considerable variability in achieving best corrected visual acuity. 80% of patients already had uncorrected visual acuity of 0.5 or better 1 day after surgery. By the 16th hour 97% of preoperative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was achieved. The mean radius of anterior corneal curvature was already relatively constant after 3 h. After that the corneal topography was fairly stable.Vision recovers rapidly after LASIK. Visual rehabilitation was reached after 16 h in most cases. Mesopic vision, however, was reduced after LASIK.