Why Your Vision Changes During Pregnancy
Your body becomes a fluid-retention champion during pregnancy. This extra fluid can impact the shape and thickness of your corneas, the clear outer layer of your eyes. Even subtle shifts here can cause blurry vision, and eye floaters.
This fluid retention also often leads to dry eyes, another common culprit for blurry or fluctuating vision. Along with fluid, hormonal changes, particularly higher levels of estrogen and progesterone, play a significant role. These hormones can affect tear production, making your eyes feel dry, itchy, and irritated. This can even lead to vision problems.
Hormonal Effects and Their Impact
Think of your hormones like tiny conductors, orchestrating a symphony of changes. They influence fluid levels, impacting the shape of your cornea and even your tear production. Estrogen, known to reduce tear secretion, often leaves eyes feeling dry and gritty, as shared in research by The Scientific Journal of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
Hormones can even cause subtle changes to your eye pressure. While generally minor, it's crucial for your eye doctor to monitor these changes throughout your pregnancy, especially if you have a pre-existing eye condition like glaucoma. Talk to your eye care professional about any concerns you may have.
Common Vision Changes During Pregnancy
Now that you know why your vision might go a little haywire during pregnancy, let's look at the common vision changes pregnant women experience:
1. Blurry Vision
This is a frequent visitor during pregnancy, often a tag-along of fluid retention or dry eyes. Many women describe it as a slight haze or difficulty focusing, particularly when reading or using screens. This can happen at any point in your pregnancy, but may be especially noticeable during the early weeks.
2. Dry Eyes
Your eyes might feel scratchy, itchy, or even burn a little. Sometimes you may even experience excessive tearing as your eyes try to overcompensate for the lack of lubrication. It’s pretty ironic, isn’t it?
Dry eyes are commonly associated with reduced tear production, but it's worth understanding the broader context. Sometimes, those watery eyes could actually be your body's way of battling dryness.
3. Light Sensitivity
Those bright lights at the grocery store seem even brighter now, right? You might find yourself squinting more often. If you notice vision changes such as this, consider wearing sunglasses when you're outdoors.
4. Changes in Your Glasses or Contact Prescription
Sometimes, those faithful eyeglasses or contacts don't quite cut it during pregnancy. Those cornea changes and fluid fluctuations can mean your vision needs a temporary tweak. This is also a good time to consider switching to preservative-free artificial tears if you wear contact lenses.
5. Double Vision
While less common, this symptom might make you feel like you've stumbled onto a pirate ship. It's essential to contact your doctor right away if you start seeing double, as this can indicate a more serious condition like diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration. Early detection of eye diseases is important.
When to Seek Medical Help
While most vision changes are normal during pregnancy, some warrant a call to your doctor. If you experience any of the following, seek immediate medical help:
- Sudden onset of blurry vision or distorted vision
- Loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Persistent double vision
- Seeing flashes of light or floaters
- Severe headaches, especially with vision changes
These symptoms could signify conditions like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, intracranial hypertension (specifically idiopathic intracranial hypertension), or other medical issues that require immediate attention. It is important to consult with your doctor to rule out any underlying conditions. Early detection and treatment are important for managing these conditions.
What to Do About Vision Changes During Pregnancy
Managing common pregnancy-related vision changes is about finding relief. Artificial tears, specifically preservative-free varieties, can soothe those dry eyes. A study published in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology delves deeper into the science of how pregnancy affects tear production and highlights the benefit of lubricating eye drops. If you experience partial vision loss or blind spots, contact your doctor right away.
Adjusting your screen time can also be helpful, giving your eyes frequent breaks. If those bright lights are bothering you, try dimmer settings and sunglasses when outdoors. Staying well-hydrated is vital to support your overall health and can also help reduce dry eye symptoms. Be sure to attend your regularly scheduled vision screening appointments.
While it's usually best to avoid significant vision correction changes during pregnancy (like LASIK surgery), don't hesitate to chat with your eye doctor about a temporary update to your glasses or contacts if needed. This ensures you can see comfortably throughout your pregnancy. You should also talk to your doctor if you are a diabetic and need to discuss things like if you need to prescribe insulin or monitor your blood sugar levels more often.
Can Vision Changes During Pregnancy Be Permanent?
This is a question many women have. Thankfully, the vast majority of vision changes during pregnancy are temporary. Hormone levels stabilize after delivery, fluid retention diminishes, and your vision typically returns to its pre-pregnancy state within a few weeks or months. Sometimes changes in vision occur gradually, so you may not notice them right away.
Sometimes, however, those changes stick around a bit longer, especially while breastfeeding. This is due to the continued influence of hormones associated with lactation. This emphasizes why routine eye exams after pregnancy, especially while you're nursing, are important to monitor any persistent changes and rule out other issues, like inherited retinal diseases.
Tips for Maintaining Eye Health During Pregnancy
Just like a healthy diet and regular exercise benefit your overall well-being, they're important for your eyes, too. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants, found in colorful fruits and vegetables, helps protect your eyes from oxidative stress. These colorful treats not only brighten your plate but also help protect your delicate eye tissues from damage. And omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in fatty fish like salmon and flaxseeds, support healthy tear production.
This is particularly helpful if those dry eyes are making their presence known. You can also ask your doctor if you need to increase your intake of certain vitamins.
Along with nutrition, keep your regular eye exams. This allows your eye doctor to track any vision changes and address potential concerns early on. If you have any questions about how your vision changes or notice blurry vision during pregnancy, contact your doctor for more information.
FAQ About Vision Changes During Pregnancy
1. How to fix blurry vision during pregnancy?
Blurred vision during pregnancy is often caused by temporary factors and usually improves after delivery. Simple adjustments can make a big difference. First, prioritize staying hydrated, as dehydration can exacerbate dry eyes. Artificial tears can provide relief by lubricating your eyes.
Try to schedule more frequent breaks from screens to give your eyes a chance to relax and rehydrate. If you are concerned, be sure to talk to your doctor about your blurred vision. You should also tell your doctor if your blurred vision occur suddenly.
2. Why is my vision weird while pregnant?
Those pesky pregnancy hormones are likely responsible for your wonky vision. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone can cause fluid retention and changes in corneal thickness, impacting your vision. It's just another way your body adapts to accommodate your growing baby. These hormonal changes are normal during pregnancy.
3. Why does preeclampsia cause vision changes?
Preeclampsia, marked by high blood pressure, can cause serious problems. This condition constricts blood vessels, affecting blood flow to various organs, including your eyes. When this occurs in the blood vessels supplying the retina at the back of your eye, it can cause vision changes. Symptoms range from blurred vision or double vision to light sensitivity or even temporary loss of vision.
If you experience any of these changes along with headaches, swelling, or sudden weight gain, it's crucial to get medical help right away. If you have preeclampsia, your doctor will be able to recommend the best treatment option for you.
4. How do you treat eye issues during pregnancy?
If those dry, irritated eyes are driving you crazy, consider over-the-counter lubricating eye drops (artificial tears). Always go with preservative-free versions to minimize potential irritation. Adjusting your contact lens wear and opting for glasses can also improve comfort. Remember, your eye health is essential, but it's always best to discuss treatment options with your doctor, especially during pregnancy, to make sure they are safe for you and your baby.
More Questions? We Can Help.
Pregnancy is an incredible chapter. Understanding vision changes during pregnancy lets you approach them with calmness and knowledge. Embrace the journey. Listen to your body and maintain open communication with your healthcare providers. Doing so ensures a safe and healthy pregnancy for both you and your little one.
If you have more questions, reach out to us at Asheville Vision and Wellness. Our breadth of knowledge and expertise is at your service to help you feel more comfortable during your pregnancy, and beyond.