Can you get laser eye surgery while pregnant?

If you’re pregnant and thinking about laser eye surgery, you might wonder: “Is it safe to get LASIK while pregnant?”

Here’s the simple answer: It’s best to wait.

Even though LASIK is very safe for most people, pregnancy causes a lot of changes in your body—and your eyes. These changes can affect your results.

At Elite LASIK & Cataract in Indianapolis, we want you to get the best outcome. That means choosing the right time to have surgery. Let’s talk about why waiting is a good idea.

How pregnancy affects your eyes

During pregnancy, your body goes through big changes. Hormones, fluids, and even your blood sugar can affect how your eyes work.

Here are some things that can happen:

• Your vision can change during pregnancy (it might get blurrier or shift slightly)
• Your corneas can swell, making them thicker
• Tear production may change, causing dry eyes
• Prescription changes are often temporary—your vision may return to normal after pregnancy

Because of this, the measurements we use to plan your laser eye surgery might not be accurate if you’re pregnant.

Why we recommend waiting

We want you to enjoy clear, long-lasting results. If you get LASIK while your eyes are still changing, your vision could shift after surgery. This means you might not get the best outcome.

Here’s why we say wait:

• Hormone changes can affect your cornea shape
• Prescription shifts may reverse after pregnancy
• Dry eyes during pregnancy may slow healing

It’s not about safety—it’s about timing.

What about breastfeeding?

If you’re breastfeeding, hormones can still affect your vision. That’s why we recommend waiting until 3 to 6 months after you finish breastfeeding before having surgery.

This gives your body (and your eyes) time to return to normal.

Can LASIK harm the baby?

No—LASIK itself won’t harm the baby. It’s an outpatient procedure done on your eyes only. But you will need prescription eye drops after surgery, and these haven’t always been tested during pregnancy.

It’s another reason we suggest waiting.

What should you do instead?

During pregnancy, just keep using your regular glasses or contacts. If your vision seems to change, that’s normal—and usually temporary.

After pregnancy and breastfeeding, come see us for a full eye exam. We’ll check that your vision is stable and that you’re ready for LASIK.

Ready to plan for life after glasses?

Just because you can’t have surgery right now doesn’t mean you can’t get ready. The first step is knowing if you’re a good candidate.

Take our quick suitability self-test today. It only takes a minute—and you’ll know what to expect once the time is right.