Lasik While Nursing or Pregnant

I wear contacts so every year I have to go to the eye doctor. Both times when I was pregnant, my eye sight got BETTER and stayed that way until I was done breastfeeding. After I was done, my eyesignt went back to the pre-baby prescription. No matter how badly you want the lasik now, I wouldn't risk it. Wait until you are completely done breastfeeding.

I used to be an ophthalmic assistant and we wouldn't do Lasik until 6 months after delivery. I never heard anything about breastfeeding and my Dr was pretty particular...he was not a cookie-cutter type facility. Although you may be having a regular menstrual cycle and are only breastfeeding occasionally, your body does have to produce extra hormones to continue your milk supply. If you went someplace that's an in and out kind of deal you might go somewhere else for a second opinion...Good luck!

It isn't worth the risk. Just don't do it. After I stop nursing completely it seems like it takes at least 4 weeks for me not to have any milk at all, which makes me think the hormones are still flowing. My eye prescription changes dramatically from when I am pregnant/nursing to "normal" again. This is something that could affect your whole life for the good or bad. My mom had a bad experience with lasik and was blind in one eye until they corrected it. Just don't take the risk. If you are really going to do it, you can wait. My husband had it done and loves it. Trust your doctor, that's why they pay him the big bucks right?

If the lasik center won't schedule you until you have stopped for at least 6 weeks then there is probabaly a pretty good reason. It is a medical procedure/surgery. You yourself said that you nurse when she is tired or hurt. That must mean you do it every day because a child is tired at some point every day. Even if you don't do it everyday, you are still doing it and that affects your hormones. How could your hormones be back to pre-baby days if you are still nursing? You weren't nursing in pre-baby days. Are you going to lie to them to get them to do it since you plan on continuing nursing? If you aren't totally honest with your doctor about your health then you can't be assured that the procedure/surgery will be completely safe.

Sorry, I think you should abide their guidelines.
If you want a professional opinion outside the Lasik doctor, ask your OB.
Good luck with it, Lasik is the best!

C.,

I did not have lasik, but I have nursed my older kid until 25 months old. At the very end I also nursed only occasionally and had a regular period. But after I finally weaned I felt how much my hormones changed. I just felt different, and lost five pounds over the next month doing nothing. So they are probably right about your hormones.

Good luck!
Jen.

What is your hurry? Don't you want the procedure to be as specific as possible? I would wait until you are finished nursing - which I assume will be soon? I had Lasik in December and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made - $$ well spent. I wanted to make sure I was in proper health and at a good time in my life for it though, and you should too.

I know several women whose vision was very different while pregnant and nursing, myself included. I would follow their recomendations, becuase it would stink to have it done only to find out your eyes wern't quite back to normal and it not be quite right. Good luck to you and hoe that you get to have it done soon.

Hi C.,

Even if you feel as if your hormones are back to normal, they are not back to pre-baby days because you are still breastfeeding. There are specific hormones necessary to produce and release the milk. Their argument is totally legitimate. Vision stability is factor in whether or not you can be a candidate. You wouldn't want to go through the surgery, eventually stop breastfeeding, and then your vision changes. The hormones circulating in your body during pregnancy and breastfeeding can definitely cause vision changes, sometimes it's temporary and other times it's permanent. As much as you may want the Lasik at this point, there is a reason why they have this guideline set. I know it's not what you want to hear, but just stick it out until you are no longer breastfeeding/pregnant. Hope this helps! Good luck.

Well, you can go ahead and risk your eyesight, but do you really want to? I'd much rather see than spend lots of money and still have to wear contacts/glasses. I think it's an easy choice. I've actually heard to wait 2 years till after birth. When it comes to your eyes, I'd listen to the docs.

A bit off-topic, but I just wanted to encourage you to continue breastfeeding as long as you want to! I went to 2y9m with my son, and we only stopped recently because my supply dried up with a subsequent baby on the way. We'd still be nursing otherwise! So please don't feel forced to stop until you really want to. Blessings!

HI C.,
I had epi-lasik about 2 years ago. I wasn't nursing or pregnant at the time, but it was a difficult recovery and I can't help but think if my hormones could have been a factor it may have been much worse. It took a few weeks for my eyesight to be really clear....20/15. If I were you, I wouldn't risk my eyesight. Hormones do the strangest things to us as you know. My advice is to listen to the doctor and wait until you're done nursing. Good luck!

Hi C.,
Are you hinting you want to lie/fib about breast feeding so you can go ahead and have the procedure?

Then what if something goes wrong?
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