Expectant mothers need to manage a variety of various issues. The more typical issues, such as early morning illness and constipation, are discussed often, while other issues such as vision changes are not. Believe it or not, vision modifications are a common, normal part of being pregnant. Blurred vision can occur during any stage of pregnancy, and it can even continue long after the pregnancy has actually come to term. In truth, lots of women experience extreme vision changes prior to they even understand they are pregnant.
Causes of Blurred Vision During Pregnancy
As with the majority of issues that expectant mothers experience, hormones are the offender. The same hormones that make your ankles and face swell also cause a boost of fluid accumulation within your eye. Fluid retention is common during pregnancy, and it can affect your cornea. Your lens and cornea may thicken, and the fluid pressure within your eyeball may alter, causing your vision to become hazy. Pregnancy hormonal agents also cause a reduction in tear production, which may cause decreased visual acuity and other symptoms.
Some doctors think that another possible reason for blurry vision might be a softening of corneal tissue triggered by the body’s increased production of the hormone progesterone. Progesterone softens the cartilage and collagen in a pregnant female’s pelvic area in preparation for the passage of a baby through this extremely little area, and there is reason to believe it might have a comparable effect on collagen in the eye.
Symptoms and Signs of Blurry Vision During Pregnancy
Blurry vision during pregnancy is normal, however it can sometimes be a symptom of a more serious issue. Some of the other symptoms you might experience are:
- Eye irritation
- Dry eyes
- Pain
- Vision changes
- Spots
- Floaters
- Double vision
If you’re pregnant and experiencing serious vision issues, it might be the sign of a more serious problem. Blurry vision and other vision issues during pregnancy are sometimes a sign of preeclampsia, a possibly severe condition affecting 3 to 5 percent of all pregnancies. Preeclampsia causes hypertension and vision changes that can include blurred vision, photophobia (severe sensitivity to light), flashing lights in your field of view, and in some cases even temporary blindness. According to the Preeclampsia Foundation, these vision changes might be caused by inflammation of the central nervous system or by swelling of the brain. If you are experiencing visual symptoms with your pregnancy – especially if these symptoms are accompanied by headaches, vomiting, abdominal pain, or sudden swelling in your face and limbs – you need to call your doctor right away.
Other problems and conditions that may be represented by blurred vision during pregnancy include:
- Gestational Diabetes
- Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH).
- High Blood Pressure.
In some cases, blurred vision during pregnancy might suggest high blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes or are vulnerable to diabetes, your obstetrician will encourage you on how to manage your condition. If you have another condition not discussed here, you should always make certain your healthcare provider understands the condition, and you need to continue to get regular check-ups to prevent future problems.
Other Vision and Eye Changes That May Occur During Pregnancy
Pregnancy can interfere with the function of cells in the lacrimal glands that are responsible for tear production, resulting in dry eyes.
Pregnancy can often be accompanies by a reduction in intraocular pressure. This effect might be more noticable in women suffering from ocular hypertension. After the first trimester, pregnancy may likewise have an advantageous result on women struggling with chronic uveitis, who frequently report a lower occurrence of flare-ups for the rest of their pregnancies.
Ptosis (drooping eyelid) can also occur in pregnancy. This ptosis is usually unilateral (i.e., it takes place just on one side), and is caused primarily by hormone variations and by stress.
Treatment of Blurred Vision During Pregnancy
If you’re experiencing blurry vision while you’re pregnant, chances are your doctor will not take any steps to repair the problem unless it is very severe. You must hold off at least six months after the birth of your baby before having any kind of corrective surgery carried out. If you are intending on getting pregnant, you should not have restorative surgery done at least six weeks prior to conception. Pregnant women’s eyes are frequently intolerant of contact lenses, so you ought to delay being suitabled for contact lenses up until at least 4 to 6 weeks after your baby is born.
Don’t be surprised if your blurry vision continues after pregnancy; vision has the tendency to go back to normal within a couple of weeks after delivery, and your ophthalmologist will probably delay remedying your vision up until it has actually had time to enhance on its own. If possible, you ought to avoid wearing any kind of contact lens during pregnancy, while your hormones are triggering drastic modifications in your body.
If you are pregnant or preparing to become pregnant, talk with your healthcare provider about this topic prior to you start to experience vision modifications. Your doctor will have the ability to assist you get a sense of what to expect if your vision modifications while you are pregnant.
