In the past – and sometimes even today – there was a common belief that laser eye procedures could only be done for women who had already given birth. This is, however, a misconception.
"We perform procedures on women before childbirth, and for laser eye procedures, children or pregnancy are not determining factors," explains KSA Silmakeskus eye surgeon Dr Ants Haavel. "In fact, a large proportion of women undergo laser eye procedures shortly before pregnancy and have no problems during pregnancy or delivery," Dr Haavel adds.
Is laser eye surgery safe before pregnancy?
It is quite a common belief that women who have had a laser eye procedure before giving birth are at greater risk of damaging the retina (the back inner surface of the eyeball) during delivery. According to Dr Haavel, however, every woman faces a small risk, and laser eye surgery does not increase this risk at all.
"Even if there are weak spots on the retina (lattice degeneration), damaging the retina during delivery is extremely rare. In the past, or in very unlikely cases today, vision could weaken as a result of such damage. However, today's advanced technology can easily repair the retina," Dr Haavel explains.
Thorough examination before the procedure
According to Dr Haavel, the retina is carefully examined before any laser eye procedure. "If weak spots are discovered, we 'weld' them with an argon laser, which eliminates the problem," Dr Haavel reassures.
Dr Haavel also notes that childbirth is a stressful workout, so any concern about changes or bodily damage is completely understandable. However, there is no reason to worry, as the likelihood of something going wrong is extremely small.
"I would say that laser eye procedures have only a positive effect, because women feel more comfortable after the procedure. No need to stress about glasses or contact lenses – one less thing to worry about," Dr Haavel adds.
Laser eye surgery is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding
As part of the laser eye procedure, eye drops are required before and after surgery. Therefore, it is advisable to have the procedure done before pregnancy or after breastfeeding has finished. Nevertheless, it is still worth doing.
"Mothers who have had laser eye procedures are very satisfied because they can see their babies without glasses and contact lenses. It is especially useful for night-time feeding, as perfect vision makes it significantly easier. Also, over time babies tend to start grabbing things, and many mothers have experienced broken glasses, which leads to unexpected expenses," Dr Haavel explains, highlighting some of the benefits.
© 2026 KSA Vision Clinic. All rights reserved.
