Pregnancy and laser vision correction

Are you pregnant and on sick leave? Or does maternity leave seem to be the right time for you to undergo a laser vision correction procedure? You should know that both pregnancy and breast-feeding period are a temporary contraindication in this case. Why?

Refractive error instability: contraindication to the surgery

Refractive error instability is one of the reasons why a decision to undergo a laser vision correction procedure should not be scheduled for the time during pregnancy or the breastfeeding period afterwards. Hormonal changes which usually occur in the woman’s body during this time, often referred to as so-called “hormonal havoc”, contribute to fluctuations in the severity of the vision defect. The results of a preliminary qualifying examination in such circumstances would be unreliable and the effect of the surgery would not be permanent.

Excessive fluid accumulation in the bodily tissues, caused by a change in the oestrogen levels, affects the condition of the cornea, sclera and ocular lens. It is temporary physiological phenomenon occurring during pregnancy, but it may lead to refraction disorders – changes in the optical system of the eye.

Hormonal impact on the eyesight

Apart from instability of the refractive error, there are other frequent disorders, which occur during pregnancy (and in some cases also during breastfeeding period), which could potentially affect the results of the qualifying examination. They are usually nothing to be worried about as they tend to regress a few days after childbirth. These disorders include:

• Temporary change in the thickness and curvature of the cornea due to swelling.
• A feeling of dryness in the eyes caused by decreased tear production.
• In some cases night vision disorders.
• Insignificant changes in the visual field.

What is more, the vision stabilisation process following the surgery is dependent on treatment implemented during the convalescence period – administration of medication in the form of eye drops. The eye drops may have impact on the woman’s body, and thus affect the pregnancy or breastmilk during breastfeeding.

Laser vision correction and natural childbirth

As far as the ophthalmologic examination results are concerned, the possibility of natural birth is determined by the condition of the retina as it is the part of the eye most prone to damage during childbirth due to intense physical effort and increased intraocular pressure.

There is no correlation between the impact of physical effort and increased ocular pressure on the retina during labour and a laser vision correction undergone in the past for during the surgery only the outer layers of the cornea are reshaped and the fundus of the eye is not affected by the procedure. Therefore, laser vision correction which you had before pregnancy is not a contraindication to natural birth.

In the last trimester of pregnancy it is advised to undergo a specjalist oftalmologic examination during which an ophthalmologist will assess the condition of the retina. The examination is recommended to all pregnant women, regardless of whether they had a laser vision correction procedure in the past or not.

A laser vision correction surgery can be performed approximately 6 months after childbirth or after termination of breastfeeding. You do not need to devote much time to have the surgery since the qualifying examination and the procedure itself can be performed on the same day – in a one-day procedure mode. In order to make an appointment, fill in an online preliminary qualification form available on our website or call our Centre.

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