Who wants complete freedom from glasses and contact lenses? Poor vision can be extremely inhibitive in daily tasks, especially when pregnant. However, is pregnancy a good time to consider Lasik surgery? Let us look into it.
Wait if you can
When a woman becomes pregnant, her body undergoes a lot of changes. These developments are necessary for healthy growth of the baby inside a mother’s womb. A reliable eye care institute, such as Sugarland Eye & Laser Center in Houston, will recommend to delay the laser eye surgery until they have delivered the baby.
Why you should consider waiting
Hormones in a women’s body fluctuate significantly when she is pregnant. As a result, many systems in the body are affected, even the eye sight. This is the reason Lasik results may not be as accurate as they normally are. The other important reason to put off surgery until delivery becomes that the healing process may take longer than usual and may not even heal fully until after pregnancy has ceased. Pregnant women experience dry eyes during their pregnancy that is another important reason to consider before going for the surgery.
Don’t forget the medication
To help alleviate the pain doctors give medication. Most Lasik patients are administered oral sedatives that helps them relax before the procedure. The medication doesn’t end here. You may need to take some even after the surgery, but that depends on a patient’s pain thresholds. The doctor will prescribe an antibiotic and steroidal eye drops for a couple of days after the surgery to prevent any kind of infection. These drops also help in eliminating inflammation.
Even anesthetic eye drops are used to reduce pain and discomfort during the surgery. What impact these medicines have on an unborn fetus is still unknown. For their own safety and that of their unborn child, most eye care institutes will recommend that it is best to wait until they have given birth. It is only a matter of time after your pregnancy is over when you will be ready for the surgery.
These are just some of the reasons why surgeons advise pregnant women to avoid having Lasik surgery when they are pregnant. It’s recommended to wait for a couple of months not just after the delivery but also after nursing their infants to consider a vision correction surgery.
An important thing to note becomes that women often experience discomfort due to dry eyes during pregnancy. This makes wearing contact lenses not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous. Doctors recommend that if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, you should consider getting an updated prescription for your eyeglasses. It is much safer to wear eyeglasses during dryness related discomfort rather than aiming for a surgery.
Conclusion
Consult with a doctor first. In general, wait at least six months after pregnancy to have the Lasik surgery since the hormones need time to return to pre-pregnancy levels. Realize you may also need to give at least 3 months for your Lasik treatment. If you have had a vision correction treatment before check if the process has changed. If you are planning to start a family, check first with your doctors about any precautions with the treatments you presently use.
Sugarland Eye & Laser Center leads in providing premium LASIK technologies to Houston, Sugar Land, and the surrounding region. The center’s award-winning medical director introduced revolutionary technologies such as iLASIK to the region. This technology is used by NASA astronauts, Navy SEALS and Air Force fighter pilots. At Sugar Land Eye & Laser Center, you can now receive the same treatment. For more information, please call (281) 240-0478.
http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/faq-pregnant.htm:
