If you are thinking about starting a family at the same time you’re thinking about correcting your vision, there are a few things you’re going to want to consider. Here at Stahl, we believe LASIK is especially beneficial to new mothers. Having one less thing to worry about each day (namely contact lenses and glasses) can be a relief while meeting the high demands of a newborn. So, what should you take into consideration before getting LASIK surgery and becoming pregnant?
How LASIK Surgery Works
LASIK surgery works by changing the shape of your eye. If you have myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism, it means that your cornea is shaped irregularly, causing light to focus improperly onto the retina. This causes blurry vision.
During LASIK surgery, a thin, circular flap is created on the surface of the cornea. This flap is pulled back to expose the inner layers of your cornea for reshaping with a laser. Once your cornea is properly reshaped, the flap is smoothed back into place and the surgery is over!
How LASIK Can Interfere
LASIK surgery itself is perfectly safe for women who are trying to become pregnant. However, it is suggested that you wait 2 to 6 months after your LASIK surgery to get pregnant, if possible. There are multiple reasons for this.
The first is that pregnancy hormones can drastically affect eyesight in around 10% of LASIK patients. A common pregnancy symptom is swelling, which is typically noticed in the legs, face, and feet. But your corneas can swell too! As your body starts to retain fluid, your corneas can actually change shape regardless of your LASIK surgery. This can result in vision regression, and may require an additional surgery after pregnancy.
Because of increased hormone production, common LASIK side effects such as dry eye and halos/glare around lights may become exacerbated. The drugs used during LASIK (mild oral sedatives and eye drops) may not be healthy for a developing baby.
Here at Stahl, we believe in taking every precaution. That is why we recommend adding a time buffer of 2 to 6 months between LASIK surgery and pregnancy.
Why Get LASIK Before Pregnancy and Not After
Both options are certainly safe and effective. However, we think LASIK before pregnancy is the better option simply for the convenience factor.
Many women have problems wearing contact lenses during pregnancy because of pregnancy-induced dry eye syndrome. After pregnancy, you will want to simplify as many aspects of your life as you can. Who has time to practice proper contact lens hygiene when they have a newborn?
LASIK surgery before pregnancy can eliminate or reduce these issues. If you are interested in discussing your pre-pregnancy LASIK options with a skilled ophthalmologist, contact Stahl Eyecare experts today. Take our online LASIK candidacy test to see if you are an ideal candidate for LASIK!
