Pregnancy can cause a lot of changes in your body, including in your vision. Hormones are responsible for most of these changes, especially during the last two months of pregnancy. Most of these changes are temporary. However, consult your doctor or optometrist if you need help with eye-related changes.
The following are common vision changes that might occur during pregnancy:
- Problems in wearing Contact Lenses
If you’re used to wearing contact lenses, the increase in hormones during pregnancy may make it difficult to wear them. Subtle changes occur to the shape of cornea during pregnancy. This causes the contact lenses to feel uncomfortable due to corneal edema or swelling. Try switching to glasses during pregnancy. Avoid getting fitted for new lenses while you’re pregnant as your eyes are in a constant state of change.
- Blurred Vision
As discussed earlier, pregnancy can cause swelling throughout the body – including in cornea. This swelling may lead to changes in glasses or contact lens prescription. You may feel more nearsighted one day and blurry on others. This change is usually temporary and will go away once you have your baby. There’s no need for new glasses or prescription changes.
- Dry Eyes
If your eyes constantly feel dry, your hormones may be to blame. Changes in hormones during pregnancy can dry your eyes out and you may not have any extra tears for lubrication. The dryness in your eyes can cause you to feel like there is a piece of sand in your eye. They may burn, itch, or may even become excessively watery. This change is also temporary and your doctor may recommend that you use artificial tears several times a day to alleviate discomfort due to dry eyes.
- Diabetic Retinopathy
If you have diabetes, you are at an increased risk for developing diabetic retinopathy during pregnancy. Pregnant women may develop bleeding or fluid leakage in the retina, which can lead to blurred vision, significant vision loss, or even blindness. If you have any type of diabetes, get one or more eye examinations during pregnancy, especially if your sugar levels are not stable.
- Spots and Floaters
If you see spots in your vision during pregnancy, don’t ignore them. These dark spots may be something known as scotomata. These are different from floaters, which move across the visual field even when you’re not pregnant. On the other hand, scotomata are stable and usually involve a larger part of the field of vision. It can be an indicator of preeclampsia or eclampsia. This can result in unusual visual symptoms, the eye damage is limited in most cases and vision returns to normal when the blood pressure becomes normal.
If you continue to experience vision changes which hamper your day to day life, talk to your doctor and see an ophthalmologist. Our doctors at KIMS Cuddles can help you understand more about vision changes during pregnancy.
*Information shared here is for general purpose. Please take doctors’ advice before taking any decision.
