Can pregnancy affect my vision?
Pregnancy does crazy things to a woman’s body and YES it can even affect your vision. The changes that are occurring in hormones, blood circulation, metabolism, and fluid retention can all impact your eyes and your eyesight during pregnancy.
Water retention not only can make your ankles swell, but it may also cause the thickness and curvature of your eye cornea to increase slightly. This may be a small change, but it could impact your glasses or contact lesses. Most women notice they have a little bit more trouble seeing further distances. If you wear glasses, you may even notice that you cannot see as well.
But, pregnancy is not a good time to look into getting a new pair of glasses or be fitted for a new set of contacts. Most of the time, these changes are only temporary and will return back to normal several months after delivery.
Why are my eyes more sensitive?
Because your cornea may have changed shape and become thicker, your eyes may be a little more sensitive to contact lenses. They may be uncomfortable and you may just want to go back to your glasses for the duration of your pregnancy. You may also find your eyes are drier and more irritated during pregnancy and even during breastfeeding. Ask your eye doctor about dry-eye remedies. Some over-the-counter solutions are fine to use, but others contain active ingredients that may not be completely safe during pregnancy.
If you have pre-existing eye conditions, pregnancy may bring on some changes in these conditions. For example, if you have diabetes, you may want to go to you ophthalmologist to screen your retina before you get pregnancy and again in the early pregnancy to check for blood vessel damage in your retina. This condition, called diabetic retinopathy, often worsens during pregnancy, so you’ll need more frequent eye exams while you’re pregnant and in the postpartum period. But, Glaucoma sometimes improves during pregnancy which means your medication may have to be adjusted. See your doctor prior to or as soon as you find out your pregnant to adjust your medication accordingly.
Are eye symptoms during pregnancy ever cause for concern?
It is very important to not take any chances during pregnancy. Eye symptoms can be a sign that you may have a problem. For example: high blood pressure or preeclampsia can cause vision problems. Yes, eye symptoms can signal specific problems during pregnancy. If you have any of the following symptoms, check with your doctor immediately:
- double vision
- blurry vision
- sensitivity to light
- temporary loss of vision
- seeing spots or flashing lights
- swelling or puffiness around your eyes.
- eye pain or redness
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
