Blurred Vision During Pregnancy
There are many different problems that occur to expectant mothers. Most of them, such as morning sickness and constipation are discussed frequently, while other problems such as vision changes, are not. Believe it or not some vision changes are a common, usually normal part of being pregnant. Blurred vision is a symptom present in many stages of pregnancy with many women experiencing it even before they know they are pregnant and even after the pregnancy. During the early stages of pregnancy, vision changes can be harder to deal with because of all that is happening.
Causes
Like with most problems that expectant mothers experience, hormones are the culprit of many of the vision changes among pregnant women. As your hormones continue to make your ankles and face swell, they also cause an increase of fluid build-up within your eye. Your lens and cornea may thicken and the pressure of the fluid within your eyeball may change, causing your vision to become hazy. Ironically, the pregnancy hormones also cause a decrease in tear production which may lead to decreased visual acuity and other symptoms.
Symptoms and Signs
Although blurry vision tends to be a problem within itself, it too can be a symptom or a sign of a more serious problem. Some of the other symptoms you may experience are:
- Eye irritation
- Dry eyes
- Discomfort
- Vision changes
- Spots
- Floaters
- Double vision
If you’re pregnant and experiencing vision problems, it may be the sign of a more serious issue. These problems and conditions include:
- Gestational Diabetes
- Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH)
- High Blood Pressure
In most cases, however, blurred vision during pregnancy tends to indicate high blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes or are prone to diabetes, your obstetrician will have advice based on your circumstances. If you have another condition not mentioned here, you should always make sure your health care provider is aware of the condition, and you continue to receive regular check-ups to avoid future problems.
Treatment
If you’re experiencing blurry vision while you’re pregnant, chances are your health care provider won’t take any steps to fix the problem unless it is extremely severe. You should hold off at least six months after the birth of your baby to have any type of corrective surgery performed. If you are planning on getting pregnant, you shouldn’t have corrective surgery done at least six weeks previous to conception.
Vision tends to return to normal within weeks after delivery, so don’t be surprised if blurry vision still persists after pregnancy. Your ophthalmologist may also put off correcting your vision. Experts say that if you wear contact lenses that are bothersome, you should wear eyeglasses instead. If possible, avoid wearing any type of contact lens while during pregnancy, especially since your hormones are causing drastic changes inside your body.
Talk with your health care provider about this topic before you start to experience vision changes. This can help you understand what to expect if it does happen.
