LASIK Eye Surgery During Pregnancy: Effects and Considerations

You’re pregnant!

It’s an exciting time.

As you prepare to welcome a new baby, you might start thinking about ways to simplify your life. Getting rid of glasses and contact lenses can sound like an ideal solution. But then you wonder: what do eye care specialists say about LASIK eye surgery during pregnancy? With so many restrictions at this stage, is LASIK even an option for pregnant women?

This article from Batal Specialized Eye Center explores all the details related to LASIK vision correction for pregnant women.

Laser Vision Correction During Pregnancy

Pregnancy comes with fluctuating hormones. Hormones such as hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), estrogen, and progesterone play major roles in supporting pregnancy.

These hormones are well known for causing common pregnancy symptoms like breast tenderness, nausea, and fluid retention. What’s not discussed as often is the impact they can have on your eyes.

Blurred vision and dry eyes are possible symptoms during pregnancy. Fluid dynamics in the body can change as well, leading to fluctuations in corneal shape. There is also a risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which can negatively affect the eyes.

These changes can occur as early as the first trimester or may appear later, and they can fluctuate throughout the entire pregnancy. This makes your eyes somewhat unpredictable over those nine months, so choosing laser vision correction during pregnancy requires very careful consideration.

Is It Safe to Have LASIK While Pregnant?

Some ophthalmologists may consider performing LASIK during pregnancy. However, most refractive surgeons recommend that women wait until they reach one of three milestones before having refractive surgery: after giving birth, after menstrual cycles return to normal, or after breastfeeding has stopped.

Different physicians may have different opinions on which of these is the earliest appropriate point. If a woman is breastfeeding, hormonal fluctuations are still ongoing, and there is an additional concern that any medications used could affect the nursing infant. At Batal Specialized Eye Center, we usually recommend stopping breastfeeding for about one month before taking final measurements for surgery.

How Pregnancy Affects the Eyes

Women experience countless physical changes during pregnancy, including body aches, water retention, and nausea. Far fewer are aware of how pregnancy can affect their vision.

Hormonal and physical changes during pregnancy can lead to dry eyes, blurred vision, or even significant shifts in your prescription. Sometimes these visual changes may be the first sign of a more serious condition such as gestational diabetes.

LASIK Before Pregnancy

LASIK surgery itself is considered completely safe for women who are trying to conceive. However, if possible, it’s usually recommended to wait about two to six months after LASIK before becoming pregnant. There are several reasons for this.

First, pregnancy-related hormones can significantly affect vision in around 10% of LASIK patients. One common pregnancy symptom is swelling, typically noticed in the legs, face, and feet.

Your corneas can swell as well. When your body starts to retain more fluid, the corneal shape can change regardless of prior LASIK, which may cause a regression in your vision and sometimes require an enhancement procedure after pregnancy.

Due to increased hormone production, common LASIK side effects such as dry eye and halos or glare around lights may worsen. In addition, the medications used for LASIK (such as mild oral sedatives and medicated eye drops) may not be ideal for a developing fetus.

At Batal Specialized Eye Center, we believe in taking every possible precaution. For that reason, we typically recommend leaving a two- to six‑month window between LASIK surgery and pregnancy when possible. Both options (before or after pregnancy) can be safe and effective, but we generally view LASIK before pregnancy as the more convenient path.

Many women have difficulty wearing contact lenses during pregnancy because of pregnancy‑related dry eye. After delivery, life becomes even busier, and proper contact lens hygiene can be hard to maintain with a newborn.

Having LASIK before pregnancy can eliminate or greatly reduce these issues. If you’d like to discuss LASIK options before pregnancy with an experienced ophthalmologist, contact the eye specialists at Batal Specialized Eye Center today.

LASIK During Pregnancy

Many of our LASIK patients say their only regret is not having had the procedure sooner. We often encourage patients to go ahead with LASIK so they can start enjoying the benefits of sharper vision as soon as possible.

Pregnancy, however, is a major exception to this rule. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is usually best to wait before scheduling LASIK or PRK. We encourage any pregnant patient interested in LASIK to come in for a consultation with an eye surgeon.

Pregnancy does not automatically disqualify every woman from refractive surgery, but in most cases, postponing the procedure is the safer choice. Schedule a consultation to receive personalized advice and treatment recommendations from one of the leading eye surgeons in Saudi Arabia.

We use specific medications before, during, and after LASIK to achieve the best possible results. These can include antibiotic eye drops, anti‑inflammatory eye drops, and lubricating drops.

Although these medications are generally very safe, many of them have not been specifically tested in pregnant women. Fetal development is highly sensitive to the intrauterine environment, including any medications taken by the mother. Eye drops are absorbed into the bloodstream, and medications that have not been proven safe in pregnancy could theoretically affect the fetus.

LASIK After Delivery

Even if you have never had LASIK before, you will still need to wait a certain period after pregnancy before undergoing the procedure, since LASIK is not performed during pregnancy.

If you plan to breastfeed, it is usually recommended to wait several months before having LASIK. This allows your vision and corneal shape to stabilize and reduces the likelihood that any medication from prescription eye drops will enter your bloodstream and reach your baby. These medications are not considered safe for newborns.

By waiting a few extra months, you can then reward yourself with clear vision. If you have any questions about LASIK, pregnancy, or LASIK vision correction during pregnancy, contact the specialists at Batal Specialized Eye Center to schedule a LASIK consultation.

Does Laser Eye Surgery Affect Pregnant Women?

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, some women experience hormone‑related changes in their vision. Elevated estrogen can relax collagen fibers in the eye, which in turn can affect the shape of the cornea and how light is refracted.

Laser eye surgery is not recommended if your prescription has changed within the last two years, because there is no guarantee that your vision will remain stable after the procedure. If your prescription continues to change after LASIK or PRK, your eyesight will no longer be optimal—just as glasses made for an old prescription will no longer give you clear vision if your prescription has shifted.

It is neither practical nor advisable to repeat surgery a few months later just to match a new prescription, when changing your glasses or contact lenses would otherwise be enough. For this reason, laser eye surgery is generally discouraged during periods when vision is likely to be unstable, such as pregnancy and breastfeeding. In most cases, pregnancy, nursing, and LASIK are considered incompatible.

See also: Corneal Astigmatism and Vision Correction at Al‑Batal Center in Jeddah

LASIK in the First Month of Pregnancy

Doctors advise avoiding PRK or LASIK during pregnancy and recommend postponing pregnancy for about 6–12 months after refractive surgery, or until a stable prescription has been documented. Other sources suggest delaying LASIK for 3–6 months after pregnancy and after stopping breastfeeding.

See also: How to Care for Your Eyes After Laser Vision Correction

Laser eye surgery for pregnant women

Can You Have LASIK While Pregnant?

Because pregnancy can alter corneal shape, waiting until after pregnancy for laser eye surgery helps ensure that your correction is as accurate as possible and that your results remain stable long term.

Is LASIK Dangerous for the Fetus?

The laser treatment itself does not harm the fetus or the nursing baby. However, the medications used before, during, and after surgery may have potential effects.

Before LASIK, an oral sedative may be given to help you relax during the procedure. During LASIK, anesthetic eye drops are used to numb the eyes. After surgery, antibiotic and steroid eye drops are commonly prescribed, and patients may also receive oral pain medication to relieve discomfort.

Does Pregnancy Affect LASIK Results?

Although LASIK is usually not recommended during pregnancy, it can safely be performed before you become pregnant. There is also no need for a long delay between LASIK and trying to conceive.

Some women develop or worsen dry eye during pregnancy. We typically recommend waiting until full recovery from LASIK—usually one to two months after surgery—before trying to become pregnant, to ensure that dry eye will not negatively impact your results. Some women also experience visual changes during pregnancy.

These changes can temporarily alter your vision even after LASIK. Some women may need to wear glasses during pregnancy. Once hormone levels return to normal after delivery and weaning, clear post‑LASIK vision usually returns as well, although in a few cases an enhancement procedure may be needed.

Many women are very satisfied that they chose to have LASIK before pregnancy. Contact lenses can be difficult to tolerate during pregnancy because of dry eye, and LASIK offers good vision without the need for glasses or contacts. Many women enjoy clear, stable vision throughout pregnancy thanks to prior LASIK.

How Long Should You Wait After Pregnancy to Have LASIK?

Physicians generally recommend that new mothers wait three to six months after they have completely stopped breastfeeding before considering LASIK. This allows hormone levels to normalize and vision to stabilize.

Laser Eye Surgery During Pregnancy

The main risk of having LASIK during pregnancy is that your vision may not be fully corrected after pregnancy, because your prescription can continue to change. In addition, medications given before and after surgery can enter the bloodstream. If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, it is advisable to postpone laser eye surgery.

See also: What You Should Know About Cystoid Macular Edema

When Is It Safe to Get Pregnant After LASIK?

LASIK surgery itself is considered completely safe for women who are planning a pregnancy. However, if possible, it is recommended to wait about two to six months after LASIK before becoming pregnant.

Precautions Regarding LASIK During Pregnancy

Motherhood is one of the most beautiful phases in a woman’s life. Many women who are thinking about LASIK to get rid of their glasses feel pregnancy is a good time because they believe they have more free time.

The key question, however, is whether LASIK should be performed during pregnancy. The general medical recommendation is that it should not. When a woman is pregnant or breastfeeding, her body undergoes major hormonal shifts.

These hormonal changes can significantly affect the eyes, particularly the cornea. During pregnancy, the cornea may swell, and its shape can change.

This may cause temporary blurring of vision in women who have previously undergone LASIK. Visual clarity usually returns after delivery, once hormones stabilize. LASIK and other elective eye surgeries should be avoided during pregnancy unless there is an urgent medical indication.

LASIK is not recommended during pregnancy because it may lead to inaccurate reshaping of the cornea in a woman whose hormones are changing. Due to these hormonal fluctuations, LASIK should generally be avoided during pregnancy and for up to the first six months of breastfeeding.

Pregnancy‑related hormonal changes can temporarily alter the vision of women who have already had LASIK. Vision typically returns to normal when hormone levels revert to pre‑pregnancy levels. Undergoing LASIK during pregnancy or early breastfeeding is considered a relative contraindication.

Most ophthalmologists therefore advise waiting at least six months after stopping breastfeeding before having LASIK, to allow hormone levels to return completely to normal.

If surgery is medically necessary, it can be performed, but this six‑month window is recommended to minimize potential side effects. A few months after weaning, hormone levels usually normalize, allowing surgeons to perform LASIK with accurate and reliable outcomes.

One of the advantages of LASIK is that most patients can return to their normal routine within two to three days after surgery. Based on the discussion above, the ideal time to have LASIK is after breastfeeding has ended. LASIK should be avoided during pregnancy because of ongoing hormonal changes throughout this period.

Vision correction for pregnant women

What Are the Risks of LASIK During Pregnancy?

The primary risk of undergoing LASIK while pregnant is that you may not achieve fully corrected, stable vision after pregnancy. Additionally, medications prescribed before and after surgery can enter your bloodstream. If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, you should postpone laser eye surgery and LASIK vision correction until after delivery.

Common Questions About LASIK Vision Correction During Pregnancy

Does Childbirth Affect LASIK or Vision Correction Surgery?

Your vision can respond to hormonal shifts and to the physical changes associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. Fluid retention—which also causes swelling in the ankles and fingers—can affect both the lens and the cornea of the eye.

Who Is Not a Good Candidate for LASIK?

Patients with autoimmune diseases are generally not good candidates for laser eye surgery. Many autoimmune conditions cause or worsen dry eye, and dry eyes may not heal well and are more prone to postoperative infection. Other conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma, or cataracts can also affect surgical outcomes.

When Is It Safe to Get Pregnant After Vision Correction Surgery?

It is usually recommended to wait three to six months after vision correction surgery before becoming pregnant.

Does Eye Examination Equipment Affect Pregnant Women?

Doctors generally advise against trying to conceive immediately after LASIK or other laser vision correction procedures. However, the diagnostic equipment used to examine the eyes does not pose a risk to the fetus if it does not involve radiation or systemic medications, and therefore does not affect pregnancy.

At Batal Specialized Eye Center in Jeddah, we provide thorough, individualized counseling for pregnant women considering LASIK, under the supervision of a distinguished team of specialists including Dr. Issa Ba’issa, Dr. Baraa Fahham, and Dr. Saud Al‑Johani, to ensure the highest standard of care using the latest technologies, tailored to your specific health needs.