LASIK surgery pre pregnancy?

[sh10]

I'm posting here instead of MMM for non-mom opinions too. My eyesight, which is -5.75, has stabilized and I'm interested in LASIK. I've met with the surgeon and my corneas ate thick enough and there is Care financing available at 0% for 2 years. We can afford it, but it means not paying as much more on the mortgage or investing.

In my research on the procedure, I read that vision can change during pregnancy and I'm concerned if I have the surgery and get pregnant less than a year after LASIK, that it won't be worth it. If you had LASIK, how did you like it? How long has it lasted? Did you do it before or after getting pregnant? Did pregnancy change your eyesight?

[geek96]

I got it done 2.5 years ago. Best $5500 I've ever spent. I love waking up and being able to open my eyes and see without putting my glasses on. It also feels great not to have itchy, irritated eyes after having contacts in all day.

[ejpint]

My vision wasn't quite as bad as yours - -4.75 in both eyes.
I did it 2.5 years ago, and I haven't noticed any change in vision. I'm also pregnant (though still early), and I haven't noticed a difference there either. I know that once I hit my 40s, I'll most likely need reading glasses, but I'm crossing my fingers that by then they'll have a surgery to correct that, too!
Mine actually came with a lifetime guarantee. If my vision does for some reason decline, I can go back in and have it corrected again at no charge.

[brit1017]

I did not have it done pre-pregnancy b/c I was told my my eye dr to wait until after having kids, since your prescription can change. My eyes did get slightly worse after DS, but did not change after DD. I am planning on getting it done, but we are still undecided about a 3rd child (we'll decide for good in 3 years), and will have it done after. DH had it done and went from a prescription close to yours to better than 20/20.

[liveintheville]

I went in for an evaluation after kid 2 was born. I was told to hold off until I was done nursing because hormonal changes affect your vision.

[minzy]

I went for a consult probably five years ago and heard the same thing about the eyesight potentially changing with pregnancy/childbirth, so have held off getting it done. I also seem to recall something about the steroids you may have to take interfering with breastfeeding.

FWIW, baby #1 has had no impact on my prescription.

[glynn2009]

I had mine done 10 years ago and are still fine. The best money I have spent. I probably need a touch up but I am 39 so it is getting to the point I knew I would probably have to get something anyway. I already had my kids before getting it done.

[boiler717]

My doctor refused to do LASIK if you were planning on TTC within 1 year of surgery. She definitely asked about methods of birth control and made it clear that it would be bad to get pregnant within a year. She is fine with pregnancy after the 1 year and will cover any adjustments if needed. The other stipulation that impacted me was no overseas travel for 3 months. Thankfully she agreed that the Bahamas was not a risk.

I am coming up on my 2 year anniversary in 5 weeks. Everything is great and I'm so, so glad I did it before TTC -- I'm glad to not have to deal with glasses/contacts for those middle of the night feedings!

[EmilieMadison]

I had lasik done and got pregnant within the year after that and now my vision has changed enough that I probably need lasik again

When I went for my follow up (after baby was born) and mentioned the change, the Dr said "Oh, yeah, pregnancy can permanently alter the results of the LASIK, so we recommend waiting until after someone is done having kids to do it." Uh..no one told ME that, and if they had, I would have waited.

[jackie011]

I have been advised to wait a few years, as we are actively TTC.

[vccake]

Did Lasik ($1500) many years before ttc and no change after having a baby.

[sh10]

Aug 27, 2012 20:04:48 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

I had lasik done and got pregnant within the year after that and now my vision has changed enough that I probably need lasik again

When I went for my follow up (after baby was born) and mentioned the change, the Dr said "Oh, yeah, pregnancy can permanently alter the results of the LASIK, so we recommend waiting until after someone is done having kids to do it." Uh..no one told ME that, and if they had, I would have waited.

Yikes!! I will definitely call and ask them, my eye doctor didn't seem too concerned, but I'd like to hear what the surgeon has to say. Maybe they would give me a longer free touch-up period.

Thanks!

[dutchgirl678]

I had it done 7 years ago and my oldest is now 4. I'm so glad I had it done. But I do feel that my vision has changed somewhat. I should probably get it checked out. It's not enough that I have problems driving or recognizing faces, I just feel like sometimes I need more light to see or reading glasses. Still worth not having contacts though. But I was +8 to begin with.

[vanillacourage]

I was also told to wait until we were done having kids.

[wise_rita]

I had NO idea about this. I don't want kids for many years yet but want LASIK like yesterday.

Sucktacular news, but glad I know.