There are no hard facts about the risk of medications associated with Lasik for patients who are pregnant or nursing. However, possibility presents an essential precaution. As an elective procedure, laser eye surgery can easily be postponed in order to avoid unnecessary complications for you and your baby.

Surgery Not for Everyone

Despite what some ads may suggest, the surgery isn’t for everyone. You must have healthy eyes with no visually significant cataracts, glaucoma or severe dry eyes, says laser vision correction specialist Sandra Belmont, M.D. Also, people with extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness may not be eligible, especially if they have a thick cornea, a large pupil and/or an eye that isn’t easy to get to. And, for some farsighted patients, the results may diminish with age as their eyes naturally lose focusing power.

Pregnancy and Postponing Lasik Surgery

Patients who are pregnant, nursing or trying to conceive should postpone laser eye surgery until vision has stabilized. If you are pregnant, it is best to wait at least two months after you have stopped breastfeeding. Women electing not to breastfeed should postpone Lasik for a few months after giving birth, allowing enough time for hormonal balance to return. Patients should also wait six months to conceive following laser eye surgery.

Another important consideration is that the drugs used to correct complications of refractive surgery may be dangerous to the pregnancy or may pass through lactation to the infant during breastfeeding. Pregnancy and nursing are contraindications for all types of elective refractive surgery.

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