Can you Get LASIK While Pregnant? What you Need to Know

LASIK eye surgery can be life-changing for a person, especially when one is busy welcoming a newborn to the world, let’s find out can you have lasik while pregnant and what can be the side effects.

 

Many women have a list of jobs they would like to complete before their baby arrives. Some of these involve simplifying and organising daily tasks because they know life is about to get hectic. Throwing away the glasses and contact lenses sounds like a worthy life change, and not having to put contact lenses on is one less task during the busy morning routine. Have you thought about the temptation for little fingers to grab onto your glasses when holding Bub? But is LASIK eye surgery while pregnant the right time?

Laser Eye Surgery While Pregnant

Generally, it isn’t recommended to have laser eye surgery or to get LASIK while pregnant because of the hormonal fluctuations impacting the eyes. lasik and pregnancy together is not recommended as pregnant women experience significant hormonal changes required to support their pregnancies. Levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), oestrogen, and progesterone fluctuate during pregnancy. This change in hormones is what triggers most of the side effects women experience related to LASIK OR pregnancy or LASIK pregnancy.

Side Effects of Pregnancy on Eyes

A woman’s body undergoes many changes while pregnant and the eyes are no exception.

Change of Cornea Shape

The hormone alteration during pregnancy can cause corneal changes by increasing and thickening its curvature. These changes in the cornea can even modify a woman’s eyesight prescription. Sometimes changes in the cornea are temporary and revert to what it was pre-pregnancy, but other times, the changes are permanent. It’s important to note that getting LASIK while pregnant or having LASIK while pregnant can exacerbate these corneal changes and impact vision.

Dry Eyes

Pregnancy hormones can cause dry eyes and blurred vision due to decreased tear production. Laser eye surgery can also cause dry eyes and blurred vision, so pregnancy can put extra pressure on the eyes during recovery after surgery.

Pregnancy Conditions

There are pregnancy-related illnesses, such as gestational diabetes and hypertension, that can cause changes to the eyes.

 

Before laser eye surgery or getting LASIK while pregnant, multiple tests and measurements are performed to ensure the surgery achieves the desired outcomes. If the cornea is curved differently or thicker during pregnancy and surgery takes place, the eyes may change after the baby is born, and the patient’s eyesight will be impacted.

Laser Eye Surgery While Breastfeeding

The majority of laser eye surgeons recommend nursing mothers to wait until they finish nursing to have surgery. The reasons include hormones fluctuations while breastfeeding, and these hormones can impact the curvature of the cornea.

 

Moreover, the medications used during surgery and recovery may not be suitable for nursing mothers. These considerations highlight the importance of understanding the implications of getting LASIK while pregnant. Medications can enter the mother’s milk supply, and some can cause a nursing mum’s milk supply to be reduced. The safest option is to finish breastfeeding and wait one month before having the final measurements and laser eye surgery.

When Should You Have LASIK Eye Surgery if You’re Planning a Pregnancy?

A woman can have LASIK eye surgery just before falling pregnant. There is no known risk from the laser or medications to your fertility or the future foetus. The risk of having laser eye surgery during pregnancy is to the mother’s eyesight, so the time to have laser eye surgery is before or after pregnancy and breastfeeding.

 

If you have any questions or wish to discuss laser eye surgery further, please contact us online or call us on (08) 9381 0758 to speak with one of our clinical coordinators. Alternatively, you can take our free online suitability test to find out if you may be eligible for laser eye surgery.

Contact Lions Laser Vision

Please call us at Lions Laser Vision and speak with one of our clinical coordinators who will be able to answer your questions and schedule an initial consultation with one of our refractive surgeons.

Alternatively, complete the form below and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

PHONE: 08 9381 0758
FAX: 08 9381 0700

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Lions Eye Institute

Lions Laser Vision
1st Floor,
2 Verdun Street
Nedlands WA 6009

St John of God Murdoch
Murdoch Medical Centre

Suite 4B,
Ground Floor,
100 Murdoch Dr
Murdoch WA 6150