LASIK and Pregnancy

LASIK eye surgery is an excellent option for many people, but what if you are pregnant or nursing?

Although LASIK has yet to be proven to be unsafe for the unborn baby, most Ophthalmic professionals believe during pregnancy and shortly after, are not the most optimal times to consider LASIK vision correction.

During pregnancy it’s common for your body to be in a constant state of change and your eyesight is typically not excluded from these changes. Often during pregnancy a woman can experience increased nearsightedness as well as occasionally increased farsightedness. This is typically due to the increased volume of hormones in the body. Hormones can be elevated during pregnancy and while mom is breastfeeding. When hormone levels are higher the body retains more fluid thus causing swelling of the lens inside the eye.

The main problem with LASIK eye surgery and pregnancy is that the hormones that are surging through the woman's body can directly impact the shape and density of her corneas. Since the objective of LASIK surgery is to reshape the cornea, having another factor influencing that can cause complications in both the healing and success of the surgery.

Medication can also be an area of concern for the baby. A mild sedative is often used during the procedure. Following the procedure, the patient will be prescribed antibiotic and steroid drops to promote healing. Each of these drugs can be absorbed into the blood stream and passed on to baby through mom’s breast milk and could potentially affect the baby.

Radiation is a factor, although not a great risk due to the baby’s exposure being so limited.

Lastly, if a pregnant woman has trouble with dry eyes prior to having LASIK, this problem stands to get worse following pregnancy. Most pregnant women experience dry eyes and often experience difficulty wearing contacts during pregnancy. Dry eyes can possibly prolong the typically fast healing period.

Most LASIK surgeons (including those at the 20/20 Institute) recommend that women who plan to become pregnant or are pregnant for the first time and are experiencing fluctuations in their vision, wait to proceed with LASIK surgery after delivery or the completion of nursing. Some women do not experience any fluctuation in their vision. If this is not your first pregnancy and you are considering LASIK or another type of laser vision correction, then it may be foreseeable to see if you are a good candidate.

If you are located in the Denver and Indianapolis areas, please contact us today at 1-800-204-1989 to set up a complimentary consultation and eye exam to see whether LASIK vision correction is an option for you.