Vision Changes During Your Pregnancy

When you think of the changes your body will go through during pregnancy, the most common changes that come to mind are weight gain, morning sickness, food cravings, and hormonal changes. Vision changes that may take place during your pregnancy are not the first.

Vision changes are due to the shift in hormones during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the most dominant hormone is hCG or human chorionic gonadotropin. The increase in hCG is essential for a healthy pregnancy; however, some adverse side effects lead to vision impairment. 

Here are some changes that you may experience:

Blurry Vision

Due to fluid retention, which is a common side effect of pregnancy, the cornea’s thickness and shape can change slightly, causing blurred or distorted vision. Usually, the change is minor but if your vision is significantly altered, talk to your doctor. If you have glasses or contacts and the difference in your vision is severe, your prescription may need to be changed. However, this is usually unnecessary as your cornea will return to its standard shape after you’ve had your baby. Due to this change being temporary, investing in a new pair of glasses during pregnancy should be on hold until a later date.

Dry Eyes

Your tears aren’t just water but are of water, mucus, and fatty oils. This finely balanced mixture helps keep your eyes moist and clean. If your body doesn’t make enough tears or the tear mixture changes, you can get dry eyes. 

Dry eyes usually happen because your hormones are incredibly high during pregnancy, especially after the first trimester.  Hormonal changes are essential for a healthy pregnancy, but they can cause side effects like dry eyes. If you’re pregnant and suddenly have dry eyes, it’s generally because pregnancy hormones make your body produce fewer tears.

Some ways to comfort dry eyes during your pregnancy are: 

• Using artificial tears or eye drops

• Warm compresses

• Punctal occlusion, which is a painless procedure in which the puncta (small openings in the corners of the eyes through which tears drain) are blocked.

Flashing Lights or Blind Spots

In a small percentage of pregnant women, more significant vision changes can occur. Changes can include light sensitivity, auras, flashing lights, blind spots, double vision, peripheral vision defects, blindness, or temporary loss of sight. These changes can be a sign of preeclampsia, a severe pregnancy complication that causes high blood pressure and swelling of the face, hands, and feet.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your physician.

Diabetes and Your Vision During Pregnancy

Women who have diabetes, however, need to be monitored very carefully during pregnancy. Hopefully, these women will get a full dilated eye exam before attempting to become pregnant; if not, they should get an eye exam as soon after becoming pregnant as possible.

All women with diabetes should get an eye exam during each trimester of pregnancy, if not more often, as directed by their eye care professional. Unfortunately, the hormonal changes, hemodynamic (blood pressure and blood flow) changes, and other changes can lead to an acceleration of damage due to diabetes. Fortunately, the laser treatments available appear to have equal success in pregnancy as otherwise.

Be sure to talk to your provider if you experience any of the following: 

• Blind spots

• Blurred vision

• Temporary loss of vision

• Double vision

• Sensitivity to light

• Spots of flashing lights