Should I Wait Until After Pregnancy To Have Lasik
Many people describe LASIK eye surgery as a life changing procedure. For people who have lived all or even most of their lives dependent on glasses or contact lenses for better vision, opening their eyes first thing in the morning and seeing clearly is truly incredible. In past blog posts, weve talked about the possible side effects of LASIK, risks of LASIK, LASIK for teenagers, and many other topics regarding LASIK eye surgery.
In todays blog post, were going to talk about LASIK eye surgery and pregnancyis it safe, what are the risks, and should women wait until after pregnancy to have LASIK?
LASIK and PregnancyIf youre currently pregnant, first off, congratulations! This is an exciting time in your life, and we know that there are so many things to consider and prepare as you get ready to bring a child into the world. Pregnancy brings about a lot of changes in womens bodies. One of the less-talked about changes is vision.
Though generally temporary, there are a handful of changes that pregnancy can cause. The change and fluctuation of hormones can decrease tear production, resulting in dry or itchy eyes. Pregnancy can make your eyes more sensitive to light. Your vision might become blurry during your pregnancy you might notice your glasses or contact lenses arent as effective as they typically are. And finally, built-up fluid behind or in your eye could temporarily change the shape of your cornea.
Why Is It Better To Plan Lasik Before Or After Your Pregnancy
Heres why you should get LASIK surgery before your pregnancy or delay till after you stop breastfeeding:
What Is Pregnancy Medicaid
Medicaid is a government-sponsored health insurance program for low-income families who have no medical insurance or inadequate insurance. All states offer Medicaid or a program similar to Medicaid to help pregnant women receive adequate prenatal and postpartum care. Medicaid also offers health insurance to seniors, children, and people with disabilities.
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Can Migraine Be Worse During Menopause
If your migraine headaches are closely linked to your menstrual cycle, may make them less severe. As you get older, the nausea and vomiting may decrease as well. About two-thirds of women with migraines report that their symptoms improve with menopause.
But for some women, menopause worsens migraine or triggers them to start. It is not clear why this happens. , which is prescribed for some women during menopause, may be linked to migraines during this time. In general, though, the worsening of migraine symptoms goes away once menopause is complete.
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How Lasik Surgery Works
LASIK surgery works by changing the shape of your eye. If you have myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism, it means that your cornea is shaped irregularly, causing light to focus improperly onto the retina. This causes blurry vision.
During LASIK surgery, a thin, circular flap is created on the surface of the cornea. This flap is pulled back to expose the inner layers of your cornea for reshaping with a laser. Once your cornea is properly reshaped, the flap is smoothed back into place and the surgery is over!
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Lasik Eye Surgery Explained
Every image we see begins with light. That light is bent and focused by the cornea, and it is directed toward the retina at the back of the eye. If the focus of the light is not precise, the images we perceive can be hazy or fuzzy.
During laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis procedures, surgeons reshape the cornea. The goal of this surgery is to reduce focusing errors, so images are sharper than they were prior to surgery. As the American Academy of Ophthalmology points out, LASIK allows most people to perform everyday tasks without glasses or contacts. People may not have perfect 20/20 vision after surgery, but they may be able to see well enough that they will not need to wear corrective devices all the time. However, most patients do achieve 20/20 vision or better.
During the procedure, a surgeon creates a thin flap in the cornea and lifts that flap back. A laser beam is focused on the stromal bed and a precise amount of tissue is removed painlessly within a few seconds. The flap is placed back down at the end of the procedure. Corneal tissue heals quickly, so surgeons do not need to use stitches or bandages to hold the flap in place. Tissues will knit together in time.
What Can I Do About Headaches
Steps to manage headaches include the following:
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Avoid any known headache triggers, including allergens and certain foods, like monosodium glutamate, cured meats, and strong cheeses.
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Smoking is never a good idea in pregnancy. You should also avoid secondhand smoke.
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Try to eat well and drink plenty of fluids, especially if you are prone to morning sickness.
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Reduce your stress level. Try a massage or cold pack to help with tension headaches.
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If your headache is a migraine, rest in a cool, dark room with no noise, and try using warm or cold compresses or an ice pack.
There is good news, however. Most women have fewer headaches during pregnancy, especially after the first trimester. And those with a history of migraines often find there is improvement during pregnancy.
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How Long After Pregnancy Do I Need To Wait Before I Can Get Lasik
Recommendations for how long to wait after pregnancy before you can get LASIK surgery to differ from doctor to doctor. However, most doctors recommend waiting at least three to six months after you have finished nursing. This is because hormone levels are still increased while actively breastfeeding. Waiting three to six months after nursing will allow your eyes to return to their pre-pregnancy condition and stabilize for safe and effective LASIK surgery.
Should Those Hormones Affect My Desire For Lasik Surgery
Lets say youre nearsighted or farsighted you have astigmatism or thin corneas. Perhaps you even took the step of having a first visit with an eye surgeon before you knew you were pregnant, and you were told youre a good candidate for LASIK. You know about the possible added discomfort or vision changes expected during pregnancy, making you want to consider the surgery even more. And, you think, theres the very pleasant possibility of not having to deal with glasses or contacts after the baby arrives.
This is all understandable. But there are good reasons to wait.
The curvature of your eye is a critical component in your vision. After light travels through the cornea , it (travels back through the pupil toward the retina.
- If the curvature of the cornea is correct, the light hits the retina perfectly.
- If the light travels or focuses on to a spot before the retina, you are said to be nearsighted
- If it focuses on a spot past the retina, you are said to be farsighted.
Your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses is based largely on how light interacts with your corneas.
LASIK surgery changes the shape of your corneas, which changes your prescription. The eye surgeon takes measurements that tell the laser-guided instrument where to remove corneal tissue to improve your vision.
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Everything You Should Know About Lasik Surgery And Pregnancy
When you decide to start a family, it comes with a lot of responsibilities including one that you have towards your body. While pregnant, certain activities should be avoided according to doctors. If youre considering getting a LASIK surgery during the period, it is recommended that the decision should be delayed for some time to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
LASIK short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis is a refractive surgery that is performed to correct some eye conditions including myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The procedure involves reshaping the cornea which lets light entering the eye to be properly focused on retina so that your vision improves.
The surgery consists of a short procedure that lasts 15 minutes for both eyes and enables you to have clearer vision without the usage of spectacles or contact lenses. The patient will start feeling improvement over the course of a few days as the vision continues to stabilize after the surgery
This surgery is one of the safest eye procedures in the world with minimum or no side-effects and complications. The patient does not have to be put under anesthesia during the procedure and to get the best post-surgery results, they should have a stable prescription. There are many health concerns for women who are pregnant.
Additional Things To Consider
Its a good idea to wait two to six months after the birth of your baby before having LASIK. Not waiting could cause your vision to change, which potentially could mean that you would need to have an additional follow-up surgery.
Keep in mind that if you choose to breastfeed your baby, your body will still produce hormones that can affect your vision. Plus, any medications your doctor gives you may enter your breastmilk.
If you want to achieve the best results from LASIK, you should wait until your body has fully recovered from pregnancy and nursing. If you have any other questions about LASIK or your overall eye health, call the Nielsen Eye Center at 877-373-2020 to speak with a patient advocate. Our staff will help you to set up your free LASIK evaluation at one of our greater Boston area offices.
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Is It Safe To Get Laser Eye Surgery While Pregnant Experts Explain
Laser eye surgery is more affordable than ever before, and many adults are looking to take the plunge. But is it OK for everyone? I can think of nothing more convenient for mothers than having improved eyesight, but is it safe to get laser eye surgery while pregnant? It’s understandable that you’d want to simplify your life before a baby comes, but you’ll obviously want to know the risks.
The body goes through tremendous changes while you’re pregnant, from changes to your blood volume, to increasing your sense of smell, all the way to altering the texture of your hair. It would stand to reason, then, that something might also be happening to your eyes when your body is so flooded with hormones. As it so happens, your eyes can and do change when you’re pregnant, and that’s a concern when deciding whether or not to get laser eye surgery while pregnant. Benjamin Bert, MD, an ophthalmologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, tells Romper that because of the changes to the eye that happen during pregnancy, it’s really not a good idea to have LASIK or laser eye surgery while pregnant.
“The cornea â the clear front surface of the eye â is what is operated on in LASIK surgery. The surgery uses lasers to change the shape of the cornea, so it is important the shape of the cornea is stable,” he says. “During pregnancy, the cornea can change â usually it swells a little bit â so it is not recommended to have LASIK done at that time.”
Early Recovery: Steps To Take After Surgery
If you decide to move forward with LASIK surgery, you will need to take special care of your eyes in order to heal. Your doctor may ask you to use eye drops for several days after surgery to help your tissues heal, and you may be given an eye shield to protect your cornea from pokes and prods.
The FDA reports that you should see your doctor 24 to 48 hours after surgery to ensure that you are healing well. Your doctor may also give you instructions about when you can go back to work, and you might be given instructions about when you can engage in hobbies and sports like jogging.
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Preventing Future Migraine Attacks
In addition to there being medication that can stop a migraine attack in progress, there are also drugs that can be taken for migraine prophylaxis, or preventive therapy, as a way to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.
Preventive migraine treatments include prescription medications that were originally developed for epilepsy, depression, or high blood pressure these can often prevent future attacks, Mauskop says. They also include a newer class of drugs called CGRP antibodies that were developed specifically to treat migraine.
Women whose migraines are associated with their menstrual cycles may find relief through taking certain types of hormonal birth control or hormone replacement therapy, although in some cases, these options can make migraine worse, according to the American Migraine Foundation.
Many people do get migraine relief from various treatments. However, if your headaches persist or they last a long time, you should seek medical help from a neurologist or headache specialist, says Mauskop. You shouldnt self-treat migraines if they are unusually long or youre having them for the first time.
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Physical Changes In Eyesight Due To Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a time of change in a womans body. Some of these changes involve the eyes and eyesight. Some are only temporary, while others may be permanent. Because of fluctuations in hormone levels, many women experience changes in vision, such as new or increased levels of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. The shape and thickness of the cornea can change, and because of fluid retention, may also swell. Changes in eyesight can also be caused by the development of hypertension and diabetes, which can develop during pregnancy. Dry eyes are another common complaint. These physical changes in a pregnant womans body make her a poor candidate for LASIKsurgery, as the correction achieved may not be right if the eyes change again after the birth of the baby.
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How To Apply For Medicaid
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Arkansas Medicaid program helps needy individuals pay for basic and necessary medical services living in Arkansas and meeting the program eligibility guidelines. The program uses state and federal government funding to provide for the cost of free Medicaid benefits in Arkansas.
It is important to understand that Medicaid and Medicare are two different programs in Arkansas. Medicare only covers individuals who are either aged 65 and above or have a disability. On the other hand, Medicaid covers various additional eligibility categories as well in addition to these two categories covered by Medicare.
In order to receive Medicaid benefits in Arkansas, applicants need to meet financial as well as non-financial eligibility. Financial eligibility is based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income guidelines but some candidates are exempt from MAGI rules.
Certain individuals may also enjoy full exemption from income eligibility for Medicaid. Individuals enrolled in certain other programs such as cancer treatment and prevention program and SSI will automatically qualify for Medicaid in Arkansas.
You can enroll in the Medicaid program in Arkansas by completing an online application. You can also download an application. If you prefer applying in person, you can visit a DHS office in your state.
For further information about the program, you can visit Arkansas Department of Human Services website.
Side Effects Of Lasik Surgery During Pregnancy
LASIK surgery can be dangerous for pregnant women. It can cause a number of side effects such as dry eyes, dry mouth, eye pain, and blurred vision.
LASIK is a surgical procedure that corrects nearsightedness by reshaping the cornea. It is also known as laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis . In this procedure, the cornea is reshaped using an excimer laser or other types of lasers.
Side Effects of LASIK during pregnancy:
- Eye pain
- Vitamin supplements
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Headache Evaluation During Pregnancy
When evaluating your headache, your healthcare provider will perform a detailed history. She may ask you questions pertaining to any medical conditions you have, like high blood pressure or depression, or whether you are taking any medications or over-the-counter supplements, like vitamins, caffeine, or laxatives.
Your healthcare provider will also inquire as to the characteristics of your headache such as how intense it is, how long it has lasted, or whether there are associated symptoms like nausea or vomiting. This is done in order to make an accurate diagnosis, as well as to assess headache warning signs and rule out medical emergencies.
Some specific headache warning signs that warrant immediate medical attention include:
- Worst headache of my life
- Blurry vision
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Is Lasik Safe While Pregnancy And Breastfeeding
Pregnancy is not really the correct time to undergo LASIK. It is not at all harmful for the human body, but the hormones that are released during pregnancy may not go along well with your prescriptions. Here are some ways in which LASIK can have an adverse effect or actually have a temporary effect.
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